The WNBA world continues to reverberate from the hit that Caitlin Clark took from Alyssa Thomas exactly a month after it happened.
On June 24, during a second-quarter battle for a loose ball, Thomas sneaked a fist on the throat of the Indiana Fever superstar, a play which the Phoenix Mercury forward would later call unintentional.
After review later on, the league upgraded the play from a non-call into a Flagrant 2 penalty and suspended Thomas for one game, a decision that surprisingly became polarizing.
On Friday, Clark addressed how that incident has affected her.
Caitlin Clark Opens Up About Emotional Toll of Alyssa Thomas Controversy
The WNBA called Thomas’ hit a “non-basketball act,” which caused her suspension and $1,000 fine. Almost immediately, some criticized the league for making that decision.
ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike said a few days after the viral play that the league reacted to the “optics” of the “freeze-frame.” The analyst added that because Clark embellishes on contact, the superstar point guard made the visual worse.
Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts addressed the suspension by saying that what the league did was a “slippery slope” after complaining that “it was not a thorough investigation.”
Thomas also told the media a few days later that she received racial slurs and death threats following her suspension and fine, and blasted WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not doing enough to protect players.
Clark did not change her stance on Thomas’ suspension, but condemned the alleged death threats and online bullying.
Finally, the point guard spoke up about that incident during an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews ahead of the WNBA All-Star Game.
“There’s a moment like that in every season that I’ve played so far. And I think, for myself, I just try to navigate it the best I can. It gets exhausting,” Clark admitted.
“I get people have a job to do, but at the same time, don’t make accusations about my character and who I am when you don’t know me.”
Caitlin Clark sits down with @malika_andrews for a candid conversation. pic.twitter.com/IA0jLReHOd
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 24, 2026
“It gets frustrating, because I think especially – that’s a perfect example of, yeah, it was a hard foul, and it should’ve been dealt with in the moment, and it should’ve decided what it was then and reviewed it. Great. We move on. When I walk out of the locker room, I shouldn’t be fearful of what the conversation is gonna be, but, it’s emotionally exhausting, it’s draining.”
The three-time All-Star also took a shot at the media for helping spawn the narratives that have added more to her plate.
SEE ALSO: ‘Unbelievably Bad’ – WNBA World Blasts USA TODAY’s ‘Irresponsible’ Report On Caitlin Clark
“I feel like media, and journalism, have a responsibility to tell the stories, and a lot of the time you guys are the ones controlling the narratives about what people read, and what people talk about, and a lot of that is sometimes so far out of touch with what is reality,” Clark continued.
“And that can be confusing to somebody that’s 24, and trying to navigate life, and trying to help her team win a championship.”
Clark wants to put the spotlight on basketball, but outside noise has affected her. While she will play during the All-Star Game, Thomas failed to get the nod for the first time since 2021.
