Alyssa Thomas Suspension Sparks Officiating Debate

Alyssa Thomas got suspended one game after making contact with Caitlin Clark’s throat during a Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever game — no foul called at the time. The WNBA’s decision sparked debate over officiating consistency, especially after another similar play involving Valeriane Ayayi. Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts, who’s on the league’s referee task force, defended Thomas and criticized the league for letting star status influence calls, insisting officials must evaluate the whole play, not social media clips. The Mercury won both games without Thomas, and the conversation about fair, uniform officiating continues. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/35858e779c01f2a5