WNBA suspends Thomas for throat hit against Clark

The latest: The WNBA on Thursday suspended Thomas for one game for "recklessly making contact with her fist" to Clark's "throat area" in the game the night before.

• The decision came amid public outrage that officials didn't call a foul on the play.

State of play: Clark's been on the receiving end of many controversial no-calls in recent years, which in part prompted the WNBA to spend the offseason evaluating its officiating.

Zoom in: Thomas, meanwhile, has become one of the WNBA's most polarizing physical defenders.

• Most notably, in 2024 she was ejected after wrapping Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese around the upper body while battling for a rebound.
• During last year's playoffs, Thomas also collided with Minnesota star Napheesa Collier, who injured her ankle on the play. Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve was ejected after blasting the officials who ruled the contact legal.

The intrigue: The controversy is giving us flashbacks to another Phoenix Mercury legend: Diana Taurasi, whom Thomas replaced as team leader after Taurasi's 2025 retirement.

• She was loved and loathed as the league's premier trash talker and collected technical fouls almost as routinely as points.

The bottom line: Taurasi was the league's greatest agitator. Thomas may be stepping into that role.