Claim: The WNBA held Caitlin Clark responsible after Alyssa Thomas struck the Indiana Fever star in the throat during the June 24 game. 

Caitlin Clark made headlines following the Indiana Fever’s Wednesday, June 24, game against the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis after a controversial on-court incident involving Alyssa Thomas. During the second quarter of Phoenix’s 111-109 road victory, Clark drove into the lane and fell to the floor after making contact with Thomas.

Thomas and Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner both dove for the loose ball. During the scramble, Thomas appeared to knee Clark in the groin, while her closed fist also made contact with Clark’s throat as Clark lay on the floor. Despite the collision, Clark managed to complete a pass to teammate Aliyah Boston before Thomas got up and stepped over her. Officials did not call a foul on the play.

In the aftermath of the game, however, X account ‘FORTYFOUR_12oo’ claimed that the WNBA had reviewed the incident, determined Clark was at fault, and planned to issue her a post-game technical foul.

“WNBA OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Reviewing the footage of the interaction of Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark, we determined Clark lifte[d] her knees toward Thomas, forcing Thomas to brace herself from falling,” the tweet read. “Caitlin Clark will be assess[ed] a post-game technical 1.”

But is that really the case? Here’s what we found.

Our Verdict: False

The tweet from ‘FORTYFOUR_12oo’ is entirely fabricated. The WNBA never made such a statement. Instead, in its official statement released on Thursday, the league announced that it had suspended Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas for one game following the incident. Thomas was also assessed a Flagrant Foul 2, which carries an automatic $1,000 fine.

“Upon postgame review, the Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas has received a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty and a one-game suspension for recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, it was announced today by the WNBA,” the WNBA’s statement read.

“The incident, for which Thomas was deemed to have committed a non-basketball act, occurred with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter of the Mercury’s 111-109 win over the Fever last night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

“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.”

Thomas served her suspension on Saturday, June 27, when the Phoenix Mercury faced the Toronto Tempo. ‘FORTYFOUR_12oo’ didn’t respond to attempts to get clarification about his tweet. 

In any case, the fist-to-the-throat incident was not the only foul committed against Caitlin Clark during the game. Less than a minute later, Mercury forward Valeriane Ayayi was called for a common foul on Clark as she attempted a three-point shot. As Clark came down from her jump, Ayayi slid into her landing space. 

In the latest update on the Thomas-Clark incident, Alyssa Thomas has revealed how the incident has affected her. 

Our fact-checking sources:

• The Guardian, Thursday, June 25, 2026. WNBA suspends Alyssa Thomas for ‘cheap shot’ throat hit to Caitlin Clark
• WNBA, Friday, June 26, 2026. Press Release
• FORTYFOUR_12oo, Thursday, June 25, 2026. Post on X (Formerly Twitter)