Why Gabby Williams chose to play for the Golden State Valkyries
Gabby Williams of the Valkyries spoke with USAT’s Megan L. Hall about why she chose Golden State in WNBA free agency.
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Midway through the second quarter of the Indiana Fever’s 111-109 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday night, WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark fell to the floor and lost control of the ball while being guarded by the Mercury’s Lexi Held.
During a scramble for the ball, Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas landed on Clark, shoved her fist into Clark’s throat and straddled her.
Despite the severity of the incident, no foul was called. After the game, Fever coach Stephanie White called the play a “cheap shot.” Clark left the game with 5:15 left in the third quarter because of a back problem that worsened when he hit a defender’s leg after taking a 3-point shot.
One day later, the WNBA is now in action.
Thomas was suspended for one game by the WNBA, marking the first time in his career that the six-time All-Star has been suspended. She will miss the Mercury’s game at Toronto Tempo, which will be broadcast nationally on CBS on Saturday.
“It’s totally disrespectful. We’ve spent all offseason officiating and I still say what we keep looking for is consistency. (Clarke) isn’t being called the same as any other player. To put a fist to his throat is crazy. Crazy. Dangerous.” “If these things keep happening over and over again, you end up getting frustrated.”
The WNBA said in a statement that Thomas “recklessly” contacted Clark and “engaged in conduct unrelated to basketball.” The incident with Clark was upgraded to a flagrant 2-level foul.
“In accordance with WNBA rules, after review of a game, the league office may elect to reclassify flagrant fouls or classify fouls as flagrant that were not assessed as such during the game, with the potential for fines and suspensions,” the WNBA said in a statement.
This season has seen a lot of tantrums between Mercury and Heat. Clark and DeWanna Bonner were mixed up and had to be separated Monday night. Sophie Cunningham became a viral meme pointing at Mercury players, and Clark and Thomas both received technical fouls. The history here is that Cunningham once played for the Mercury and Bonner spent a short time with the Fever last season. White coached both Bonner and Thomas for several seasons at Connecticut State.
For Thomas, the incident with Clark is not an isolated one. A seven-time All-Defense selection, he has developed a reputation for his aggressive and sometimes needlessly reckless play. In last year’s playoff semifinal, Thomas went through the legs of Napheesa Collier while attempting a steal. No foul was called, but Collier tore three ligaments in his ankle and left the game in pain.
Thomas has elbowed Kiki Iliafen in the throat and thrown Angel Reese to the floor in recent seasons.
Thomas, a three-time ACC Player of the Year with Brenda Frese at the University of Maryland, leads the WNBA with 8.4 assists per game this season. A versatile 6-foot-2 forward with an Olympic gold medal, she led the WNBA in rebounds in 2023 and steals in 2020. Thomas spent the first 11 years of his career with the Connecticut Sun before being traded to the Mercury before the 2025 season.
The Mercury (6-13) will take on the Fever (10-8) again on July 9 in the final regular season game for both teams.
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