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A new Sports Business Journal report claims NBA commissioner Adam Silver had to intervene before WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert suspended Alyssa Thomas for hitting Caitlin Clark in the throat during a June 24 game between the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever.

According to the report, Engelbert was initially reluctant to discipline Thomas, believing a suspension for a play that drew no foul call on the court would be too severe. The claim matters because it raises fresh questions about how the WNBA protects its most visible player and whether Engelbert's leadership is facing its most serious test yet.

New report suggests Adam Silver's intervention led to Alyssa Thomas' suspension

reported that Silver told Engelbert he saw clear evidence of a flagrant foul and pushed her to issue , reportedly saying he felt for Clark given the situation. Engelbert ultimately suspended Thomas for one game and applied a Flagrant 2 penalty carrying a $1,000 fine.


A WNBA spokesperson disputed the account, calling it "absolutely false." Sources close to Engelbert told the outlet that league referee and basketball operations staff routinely weigh in on potential flagrant calls, suggesting the process followed normal channels rather than outside pressure.

What happened between Caitlin Clark and Alyssa Thomas

The incident occurred June 24 when Thomas struck Clark in the throat during live play, an action that went unpenalized in the moment. The league's subsequent review resulted in the suspension days later. Thomas has said she received death threats following the foul, while Clark has publicly said the league needs to do more to protect its players both on and off the court.

What was the WNBA's reaction?

The controversy has added to mounting pressure on Engelbert, who has led the league since 2019. A group of 11 Republican lawmakers wrote to her demanding accountability for what they described as repeated physical attacks on Clark, arguing the league's biggest star deserves better protection. Engelbert also faced criticism after backing out of a scheduled interview on "The Dan Patrick Show," with Patrick saying his team waited nearly two hours before receiving what he called a weak response from the league.

Asked directly about Engelbert's future during an NBA Summer League press conference, Silver praised her, saying, "I think Cathy continues to do a strong job building that league," while also acknowledging, "we'll have ongoing discussions about what the future looks like." Separately, reporting has surfaced claims from an anonymous league insider alleging that resentment toward Clark's popularity, including racially charged sentiment among some players, has contributed to the tension, though the WNBA has not confirmed those characterizations.

Whether this episode becomes a turning point for Engelbert's tenure or simply another flashpoint in a season already defined by scrutiny over player safety remains to be seen, and Silver's comments suggest even the NBA is watching closely.