WNBA star Caitlin Clark reacts after being punched in the throat

WNBA player Caitlin Clark recently spoke out after receiving a punch in the throat from Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas during a game. Clark shared her disappointment that this incident seemed to take away from the game’s focus. In a twist, Thomas criticized Clark for not speaking about it sooner, expressing that “our lives are under threat.”

In another game on Thursday night, Angel Reese struggled, missing 10 out of 13 shots, and took a hit to the face. This occurred during the Atlanta Dream’s 104-69 win over the Connecticut Sun, where Reese collided with Aaliyah Edwards in the second quarter.

Reese attempted a layup while being double-teamed, and as she scored, Edwards’ hand inadvertently struck Reese’s face. Following this, Edwards fell, and Reese, visibly upset, reacted angrily. She was later seen on the sidelines indicating that Edwards had punched her in the neck. Upon review, the foul on Reese was escalated to a Flagrant 1.

Interestingly, the postgame press conference for the Dream didn’t mention this foul. However, that was not the only challenge Reese faced that day. Early on, she was denied a shot by Sun player Brittney Griner, and throughout the game, Griner managed two more blocks against her.

While Reese ended the night with only eight points due to some turnovers, she did achieve 15 rebounds. The issue of bad fouls in the WNBA is a hot topic right now, highlighted by incidents like Clark’s throat punch and a recent event where Dijonai Carrington hit Sophie Cunningham in the face.

The league is grappling with ongoing discussions regarding hard contact in games and the broader cultural implications surrounding trans athletes in women’s sports. Reese is set to join Clark in representing Team USA at the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Germany soon, while the WNBA takes a break from the recent turmoil.