An ESPN analyst claimed Sunday that Caitlin Clark “embellishes” contact after a video went viral showing an opposing player essentially hitting a downed Clark in the throat.
The WNBA Indiana Fever star hit the ground June 24 surrounded by three Phoenix Mercury players. In a moment ignored by referees during the game, Phoenix forward Alyssa Thomas fell on Clark, hitting Clark in the groin with her knee and shoving her hand on Clark’s throat.
Clark appeared to be in anguish. Former WNBA star Chiney Ogwumike told other members of an ESPN panel Sunday that the “optics” of the moment were what sparked national attention.
“Alyssa plays on the edge — I know her — and Caitlyn sometimes embellishes at times, in certain instances,” Ogwumike told the three other female panel members on ESPN’s “WNBA Countdown.”
“When narratives are created based off of a freeze-frame, that can create a huge problem. The league was reacting to the optics of that image.”
—@chiney on the contact between Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark that resulted in Thomas’ suspension. pic.twitter.com/jhmv9GzknP
— espnW (@espnW) June 28, 2026
Clark’s coach, Stephanie White, blasted the referees no-call as “absolutely unacceptable” after the game.
After Thomas picked herself up, she then nearly stepped on Clark, who was forced to dodge her foot. (RELATED: ‘Absolutely Unacceptable’: Caitlin Clark Basically Gets Beat Up On Court, Refs Look Away)
The WNBA later issued a corrective “flagrant 2 foul” and suspended Thomas for one game, saying the Phoenix player “recklessly [made] contact with her fist to the throat area.”
Alyssa Thomas with the punch to Caitlin Clark’s throat
No foul on the play pic.twitter.com/aX7p5CtiGO
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) June 25, 2026
Ogwumike and the three other panelists appeared to side with Thomas.
“People hit the ground all the time,” Ogwumike protested.
The former WNBA player blamed much of the review on a foul-heavy game culture in the WNBA, saying that refs face an “imperative to call more fouls.”
“Officiating has been a universal issue to me this year,” Ogwumike said.
All four panelists dealt heavy-handed criticism to the league, calling it an overly “reactive” corrective call.
“The league was reacting to the optics,” Ogwumike said, adding that the fist-to-throat contact was not worthy of a foul since “both players got up and kept going.”
Ogwumike concluded by complaining that Thomas is “dealing with a heightened level of vitriol right now.”