The Phoenix Mercury deleted a social media post that appeared to mock Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark in the hours after a 111-109 Mercury win — the same game in which forward Alyssa Thomas was later suspended by the WNBA for recklessly making contact with her fist to Clark's throat. The removal of the post, far from containing the damage, has sharpened questions about who within the organization approved it and why no explanation followed.
What the Post Said and When It Appeared
Screenshots circulating on X showed the Mercury's official account posting a meme depicting a cartoon player lying on the floor alongside the caption "DE-WANNA PIECE OF THIS?!?" — an apparent play on DeWanna Bonner's name. Bonner joined Phoenix after a stint with the Fever last season, adding a layer of rivalry context to an already tense series between the two clubs. The post has since been removed, but its timing — after a game in which Clark left early with a back issue following two contested plays — is what drew the widest attention.
The On-Court Sequence That Set the Context
Midway through the second quarter, Thomas appeared to drive her knee into Clark's thigh and press her fist into the Fever star's neck and throat area as Clark drove to the basket. No foul was called in real time. On Thursday, the WNBA announced Thomas had been issued a Flagrant Foul 2 and a one-game suspension, describing the contact as a non-basketball act. Later in the game, Valeriane Ayayi fouled Clark on a three-point attempt; officials reviewed the play but did not upgrade it. Clark finished with 19 points and eight assists in 20 minutes before exiting with a back issue. Indiana head coach Stephanie White described the Thomas play as "absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful," arguing the league had failed to protect a generational talent.
Unanswered Questions Across Three Organizations
OutKick asked the Mercury who approved the post, why it was deleted, and whether anyone would be held accountable. The Mercury did not respond. The outlet also asked the WNBA whether the league had contacted the Mercury about the post; the WNBA's Thursday statement disciplining Thomas made no mention of it, and the league did not address the questions separately. The Fever also did not respond to requests for comment. The silence from all three parties leaves the core accountability questions open: if the post was benign, why was it taken down, and if it was not, who bears responsibility for publishing it on an official team account.
A Recurring Pattern the League Has Not Resolved
Wednesday's game followed a matchup two days earlier in which officials issued six technical fouls to five players, including Clark, Thomas, and Bonner, and ejected Fever forward Myisha Hines-Allen after her second technical. The back-to-back incidents reflect a broader tension the WNBA has struggled to manage since Clark's arrival lifted the league's ratings and media profile to levels it had not previously reached. Greater attention means fewer moments disappear quietly — and the deletion of a mocking post after a game in which the league's marquee player was injured and later vindicated by a suspension is precisely the kind of moment that does not.