It takes remarkable intellectual gymnastics to watch the WNBA suspend Alyssa Thomas for striking Caitlin Clark in the throat and still argue that the controversy was driven more by optics than by the hit itself.
Yet that’s exactly where parts of the league’s media landed.
When Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas hit Caitlin Clark in the throat last Wednesday, the league eventually corrected the officials’ mistake by upgrading the play to a Flagrant 2 and issuing a one-game suspension.
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas scrambles to get up over Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on June 24, 2026. The Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever 111-109. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
Some WNBA analysts searched for ways to justify the contact.
Among the most egregious defenses came from former WNBA star and ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike.
On Sunday, Ogwumike framed the incident as a broader discussion about officiating and social media optics.
WNBA SUSPENDS ALYSSA THOMAS FOR ‘RECKLESSLY’ HITTING CAITLIN CLARK IN THROAT DURING SCRAMBLE
Rather than squarely criticizing Thomas for the hit, she suggested Clark “can embellish contact in certain situations.”
The twisted reasoning from Ogwumike lost a lot of people.
“This was a marquee matchup. When you look at Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark, they’re both dominant players, but Alyssa plays on the edge. I know her, and Caitlin, at times, can embellish contact in certain situations,” she said.
ESPN gameday analyst Chiney Ogwumike is at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on April 3, 2025. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
Los Angeles Sparks players Nneka Ogwumike and Chiney Ogwumike arrive at the red carpet for the 2022 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, Calif., on July 20, 2022. (Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports)
“Instead, the league found itself in a position where it had to be reactive. Rather than controlling the game through officiating, it ended up responding after the fact by doing something it rarely does, issuing a suspension for a non-call.
“I’ll add one more thing. I think that largely happened because of the optics. Watching the play live, in real time, I didn’t think much of it because players hit the floor all the time. But once narratives started forming around a freeze-frame image, that changed everything. I do think the league was reacting to the optics of that image.”
Reactions on X called out Chiney’s bias against Clark.
“And this is why nobody respects Chiney’s opinion on ball,” one fan responded.
More fans reacted.
“Wrong. The league made the right call. Chiney has always hated Caitlin and pushes false narratives. This is a PR clean up for AT and no one is buying it.”
“So did Caitlin embellish getting a hand to the neck? I’m lost here.”
By framing a play that resulted in a suspension as an optics problem, Ogwumike shifted the conversation away from Thomas’ actions and toward the reaction to them.
Physical play against Clark is often framed as something she simply needs to accept rather than something officials should consistently police.
Comments like Ogwumike’s are likely to reinforce that perception.
By framing a play that resulted in a suspension as an optics problem, Ogwumike shifted the conversation away from Thomas’ actions and toward the reaction to them.
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If enough fans decide the league and its media are more interested in protecting enforcers than protecting Caitlin Clark, they should not be surprised when they start tuning out.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
Alejandro Avila is a longtime writer at OutKick, living in Southern California.
