Caitlin Clark Gets Throat Hit and Fever Guard Says the Refs Won’t Protect Her

Sophie Cunningham didn’t see the foul happen in real time. But she’s seen the video by now, and she’s not sugarcoating it.

The Indiana Fever guard went on her podcast over the weekend and addressed the play that got Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas suspended for one game. Thomas made contact with Caitlin Clark’s throat during a game last week, and the WNBA handed down the punishment after review. But Cunningham said the league and the officials are missing the bigger problem.

“I promise you if we would have seen that happen, we would have had her back,” Cunningham said on Show Me Something. “Unfortunately this type of s**t happens every single game to her and the league and the refs do absolutely nothing about it. Cheap shotting C in the throat. If she did that to any of our teammates, we’d be pissed.”

Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts defended Thomas before the Mercury’s next game, but Cunningham wasn’t buying the idea that this was just a normal hard foul. She sees a pattern. Clark takes a beating on a regular basis, and the whistle stays quiet more often than it should. Cunningham said opponents are clearly targeting the Fever rookie and getting away with it.

The numbers back her up to some degree. Clark gets clobbered on drives, gets grabbed off the ball, and takes contact that doesn’t get called nearly as often for other players. She’s already dealt with nagging injuries early in her WNBA career, and the Fever need her healthy. They’re trying to make a run in the postseason and can’t afford to lose their franchise player because the league won’t crack down on cheap stuff.

Thomas apologized to Clark after the game, according to reports. But the suspension was the league’s way of saying the foul crossed a line. The question now is whether anything changes going forward. Cunningham clearly doesn’t think it will unless the refs start throwing more flags.

“They’re definitely targeting her and the league and the refs do nothing to protect her,” Cunningham said.

The Fever are hoping that changes soon. But so far, Cunningham isn’t holding her breath.