NBA's Adam Silver pushed WNBA commissioner to suspend Alyssa Thomas for Caitlin Clark throat jab: report

When Alyssa Thomas enactment a fist to the pharynx of Caitlin Clark, she was not punished successful the contiguous aftermath.

She yet was fixed a one-game suspension and a Flagrant 2 foul aft the WNBA conducted a review, but that seemingly was astir not the case.

According to the Sports Business Journal, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was not readying connected suspending Thomas but was yet convinced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

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Caitlin Clark watches the enactment during the Indiana Fever's highly anticipated matchup with the Las Vegas Aces. (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images))

Engelbert was reportedly disquieted that a suspension for a play that was not called connected the tribunal was excessively harsh a penalty. However, Silver said determination was grounds of a flagrant foul and implored Engelbert to manus down the punishment.

The outlet reported that the league operated nether accustomed protocols for imaginable flagrant fouls. However, it besides said Engelbert does not privation to amusement favoritism toward Clark due to the fact that of her popularity portion besides trying to "appease players who judge they’ve been overshadowed by" her. On the flip side, the SBJ said Engelbert has not been to an Indiana Fever crippled since Clark was drafted.

The WNBA told SBJ that the study is "absolutely false" - neither league instantly responded to an email from Fox News Digital.

HOST CLAIMS WNBA COMMISSIONER CATHY ENGELBERT CANCELED INTERVIEW AS CAITLIN CLARK CONTROVERSY MOUNTS

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks during a property league anterior to the NBA Japan Games 2019. (KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)

Silver told reporters connected Tuesday that they volition "have ongoing discussions astir what the aboriginal looks like" regarding Engelbert’s relation successful the WNBA.

"I deliberation Cathy continues to bash a beardown occupation gathering that league," Silver said, citing her "tremendous progress."

Clark has fallen unfortunate to galore hard fouls and boastful trash speech portion being the wide look of the league. The Thomas incidental prompted Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., to articulation a radical of lawmakers to constitute a missive to Engelbert, saying she has a work to guarantee each subordinate competes "in a harmless and nonrecreational environment."

The missive said "the look of your league" is taxable to "repeated acts of unnecessary carnal hostility and violence." It concluded by urging the league to instrumentality stronger action.

"The league has an bonzer accidental to animate the adjacent procreation of pistillate athletes to prosecute athletics, but that accidental is undermined erstwhile its brightest stars are not adequately protected," the missive reads. "Your fans merit better, and truthful bash the young girls who look to the WNBA arsenic a exemplary for excellence, sportsmanship, and opportunity."

Connecticut Sun guardant Olivia Nelson-Ododa (10) fouls Indiana Fever defender Caitlin Clark (22) successful the archetypal fractional of a WNBA hoops crippled successful Indianapolis, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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Clark precocious went aft the WNBA, saying it needs to bash a amended occupation of protecting its players some connected and disconnected the court. Thomas said she received decease threats aft the foul.

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