PHOENIX — Alyssa Thomas’ one-game suspension continues to be a topic of discussion, and new reporting has raised new questions about the WNBA’s decision-making process.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Cathy Engelbert was not planning to suspend Alyssa Thomas for incident involving Caitlin Clark until Adam Silver implored her to do so, per @TomFriendWriter, @SBJ.
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) July 15, 2026
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) scrambles to get up over Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever, 111-109. © Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
According to Sports Business Journal’s Tom Friend, league commissioner Cathy Engelbert was not planning to suspend the Phoenix Mercury forward after an incident involving her and Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. However, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver urged Engelbert to issue the discipline.
Thomas was assessed a flagrant foul on Clark during a loose-ball play in which her hand slipped onto the Fever guard’s throat. While no foul was called in real time, the play quickly became one of the league’s biggest talking points, prompting a league review that ultimately resulted in Thomas’ one-game suspension.
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) attempts to strip the ball from Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) on Monday, June 22, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 86-77.
The suspension cost Phoenix one game without one of its veteran leaders on a road trip last month. It also left fans wondering how the league’s disciplinary process is determined and what factors influence suspensions. Clark’s arrival has brought unprecedented attention to the WNBA, and as a result, every physical play involving the Fever star has received heightened scrutiny from fans, media and league officials alike.
The report has many wondering about consistency in league discipline and whether high-profile incidents involving the WNBA’s most recognizable stars are evaluated differently than similar plays.
Jul 13, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) holds the ball as Minnesota Lynx forward Natasha Howard (1) plays defense in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Moments like these are likely to remain under the microscope as the league continues to grow. How it handles discipline in its biggest games and involving its biggest stars will continue to shape the conversation around competitive balance, player safety and consistency.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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