Adam Silver’s Persuasion Leads to WNBA Suspension of Alyssa Thomas

Three weeks before July 15, 2026, Indiana Fever forward Alyssa Thomas buried a fist into Chicago Sky rookie Caitlin Clark’s throat during a game. No foul was called on the court, and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert initially believed a suspension would be “too steep” given the lack of an on-court call. After NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reviewed the footage, he told Engelbert that the play constituted a clear flagrant foul and that he felt “badly for Clark.” Following his urging, Engelbert imposed a one-game suspension, a Flagrant-2 penalty, and a $1,000 fine on Thomas.

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Engelbert’s decision arrived amid speculation about her tenure. Insiders had suggested she might be forced out after the spring collective-bargaining agreement, but the historic CBA in March appeared to secure her position. At an NBA Summer League news conference, Silver praised the league’s “tremendous progress” under Engelbert, stating, “I think Cathy continues to do a strong job building that league.” He added, “We’ll have ongoing discussions about what the future looks like,” hinting that the Board of Governors may review her status, especially after recent congressional scrutiny over the Clark incident.

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League critics argue Engelbert has over-compensated for Clark’s popularity, noting she has not attended a Fever game in Indianapolis since Clark arrived three seasons ago. The fallout includes death threats directed at Thomas and a public booing of Engelbert at Barclays Center while presenting the Commissioner’s Cup. Additionally, Engelbert faced backlash for canceling a scheduled interview with radio host Dan Patrick while reportedly playing golf.

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• “I think Cathy continues to do a strong job building that league.” — Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner

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• “We’ll have ongoing discussions about what the future looks like.” — Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner

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