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| 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. |
Last month, the WNBA made a rather high-profile decision to suspend Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for pushing on the neck of Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark during a game. However, according to a new report, the league’s commissioner had to be persuaded to do so.
While the incident and the subsequent suspension became one of the biggest talking points in sports over the past several weeks, it sounds like WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert was not originally planning to suspend Thomas for the incident until NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stepped in.
Thomas Suspended
The incident in question occurred during the June 24 showdown between the Fever and the Mercury. Both Clark and Thomas fell to the floor. While getting up, Thomas pushed onto Clark’s neck in what she has since described as a “complete accident.”
While Thomas was not even assessed a common foul during the game, the league later suspended her for one game with a $1,000 fine.
Following her suspension, Thomas expressed her frustration about the lack of communication from the league, claiming that she didn’t even know about the suspension until about 10 minutes before the news hit social media. She also specifically called out Engelbert for her silence on the matter while she was receiving death threats from fans.
“We still have yet to hear anything from Cathy [Engelbert],” Thomas said. “It’s no surprise. You could see what’s being said on social media. Yeah, it’s unfortunate, but as usual, she remains silent. That’s unfortunate when our lives our being threatened.”
Engelbert did eventually make a statement saying that the league “vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate,” but it came after Thomas’ comments criticizing her.
Clark agreed with the league’s decision to retroactively declare the foul a flagrant foul, but she also condemned the hate that Thomas was receiving on social media.
Engelbert Had to Be Persuaded
While the league’s execution, messaging, and response to Thomas’ suspension was messy at best, it sounds like there could be a reason why: Engelbert was reportedly never planning to suspend Thomas in the first place.
According to a report from the Sports Business Journal, which cited multiple anonymous sources, Engelbert was not planning to suspend Thomas until NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stepped in and persuaded her to do so.
“WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert was not planning to suspend Alyssa Thomas for burying a fist into Caitlin Clark’s throat three weeks ago until NBA Commissioner Adam Silver implored her to reverse course and issue the discipline, multiple sources told SBJ Tuesday,” Tom Friend wrote for SBJ.
It’s worth noting that a WNBA spokesperson told the outlet on Wednesday it was “absolutely false’’ that Engelbert did not originally plan to suspend Thomas, but SBJ stands by its reporting.
- Dave Kelsey
