The Phoenix Mercury snuck past the Indiana Fever 111-109 on Wednesday night. However, things might have played out differently had the referees punished Alyssa Thomas for her actions toward Caitlin Clark in the second quarter.
Thomas threw Clark to the floor after battling for a loose ball, and then appeared to punch her in the throat and knee her in the groin. The act went unpunished by the officials.
Indiana Fever reporter Robin Lundberg urged the WNBA to suspend Thomas, a six-time All-Star, for what he described as a “dirty play.” Lundberg also accused Thomas of playing into her “dirty player” reputation and argued that she should have been hit with at least a Flagrant 2, given the context and history.
“It’s a dirty play. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Alyssa Thomas driving her fist into Caitlin Clark’s neck… That is a dirty play by Alyssa Thomas, who has a reputation for being dirty,” Lundberg said on his podcast shortly after the game.
He then played the clip in the background, saying:
“Look. The ball is out of play here. It’s one thing when the ball is there. The ball is out of the play. You can see it. And then she drives her fist into Clark’s neck, gets up, and steps over her. That has to be a suspension. It’s just gotta be. Or else you’re not a serious league.”
Lundberg also accused the WNBA of failing to protect its stars, noting that hard fouls on Clark rarely get upgraded to flagrants. After the hit from Thomas, Clark played only a few more minutes before exiting with a back injury. The injury occurred on a closeout play that the referees reviewed but did not upgrade to a reckless foul.
Fever Must Be Careful With Caitlin Clark’s Minutes, Says Reporter
The Fever guard’s playing time has been increasing lately, and reporter Robin Lundberg warned that Indiana must be smart about managing her minutes, both this season and in the years to come.
“It’s my understanding that Caitlin Clark is all right,” Lundberg said in the same episode. “You know, and the good news for the Fever is that they’ve got the Sparks on Saturday before a long break. Then they have the Aces on July 5th. So it’s a chance for her to get right.
“She had the back issue at the beginning of the year… her minutes have slowly ticked up, Which is a good thing. obviously, she’s gotten healthier. You hope this isn’t a setback that sets her back for the remainder of the season. I think the Fever should be very careful in managing her. You know, sit her on Saturday if need be, especially with that break coming up. Don’t overpractice. Don’t do anything… Whatever the case may be, you have to make sure she’s 100% healthy.”
Clark was on her way to playing more than 30 minutes once again. The 24-year-old is averaging 21.2 points per game. It is vital for the Fever to manage her minutes as they have a grueling schedule ahead. That is a whole lot of wear and tear on a player who is constantly targeted.
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