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Mercury’s Thomas suspended for hit to Clark’s throat

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Clock Icon2 HoursBasketball

The WNBA has suspended Alyssa Thomas for one game after the Phoenix Mercury forward made contact with her fist to the throat area of Caitlin Clark in Wednesday’s matchup with the Indiana Fever.

The incident happened in the second quarter of Phoenix’s 111-109 win, but no foul was called on Thomas and Clark eventually left the game in the third due to a lingering back issue.

The WNBA, however, reviewed the play and gave Thomas a Flagrant 2 Penalty and one-game suspension, which she will serve on Saturday when Phoenix visits the expansion Toronto Tempo.

"We have a generational talent and WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots (against her) right there that weren't called," Fever coach Stephanie White said after Wednesday's loss.

"Absolutely unacceptable. Number one, you've got to call it. It's absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful."

Thomas had a season-high 24 points while adding eight assists and four rebounds Wednesday.

The six-time All-Star leads the WNBA with 8.4 assists per game and ranks second on the lowly Mercury (6-13) with averages of 14.7 points, 6.6 boards and 1.4 steals.