“She should be banned indefinitely”: Furious Caitlin Clark fans slam WNBA’s soft punishment to Alyssa Thomas for hitting Fever star’s throat

WNBA suspends Alyssa Thomas one game after hit to Caitlin Clark's throat, but the league's disciplinary decision has done little to quiet the debate surrounding player safety. The WNBA announced Thursday that Thomas received a retroactive Flagrant Foul 2 and a one-game suspension after making contact with Clark's throat during Phoenix's 111-109 victory over the Indiana Fever.The punishment answers one question about the league's response, but it has created another. Many Fever supporters believe the suspension is too lenient after officials failed to call a foul during the game, allowing a controversial sequence to unfold without an immediate penalty.

WNBA suspends Alyssa Thomas one game after hit to Caitlin Clark's throat

The play occurred with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter as Clark and Thomas both dove for a loose ball. Video review showed Thomas making contact with her fist to Clark's throat in what the league later ruled was a non-basketball act.No whistle was blown during live action. Following its review, the WNBA upgraded the play and announced disciplinary action.

"Per WNBA rule, the League Office has the option, following its review of any game, to reclassify a Flagrant foul or to classify as Flagrant any foul not called as such during a game and may impose a fine and/or suspension," the league said in its statement.Thomas will serve the suspension Saturday when the Mercury visit the Toronto Tempo.

The incident came during an increasingly physical series between Phoenix and Indiana. Clark later exited with a back injury after another sequence in the game and finished with 19 points and eight assists in 20 minutes. The Fever ultimately lost 111-109.

Fever fans are fuming over WNBA's soft punishment of Alyssa Thomas for hitting Caitlin Clark's throat

The league's decision immediately sparked strong reactions online, with many fans arguing that one game failed to match the seriousness of the play.

One fan wrote, "One game. That’s it 😡.

She should be banned indefinitely."Another added, "Hell of a precedent set with only a 1 game suspension," while a third posted, "What a joke. One game. Needs to kicked out of league."Some responses went even further. "Thomas should be expelled from the WNBA!" one user wrote, while another commented, "That’s weak. She should be investigated for assault. It’s clear as day assault with intent."Others took a more measured view. One fan wrote, "Should be longer, but some action taken is better than no action taken."The backlash followed days of heightened discussion surrounding Clark after another heated matchup between the Fever and Mercury, fueling continued conversations about consistency in officiating and player protection.

What Fever coach Stephanie White said about the incident

Indiana coach Stephanie White was outspoken after the game, criticizing both the missed call and the standard of officiating.“It was egregious. The fact that it was a no-call … You got to call it,” White said.

“You’re coming in here aware of what happened two nights ago and that (expletive) still happens? Absolutely unacceptable.”She later expanded on her frustration.

“Absolutely disrespectful. We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren’t called," she said. "It's absolutely egregious, and utterly disrespectful. [Clark] is not called the same way as everybody else is called.

The fist in the throat is crazy. It's crazy. It's dangerous."The Fever also reinforced that message through team president Kelly Krauskopf.“Player safety should be paramount in our league,” Krauskopf said. “We appreciate the WNBA’s review of last night’s incident and the action taken. Right now our focus is on Caitlin and our entire team as we prepare for Saturday.”With Thomas sidelined for Phoenix's next game and Clark's status still under close watch following her back issue, scrutiny of how the league handles physical play is unlikely to fade anytime soon.