Alyssa Thomas Suspension for Caitlin Clark Hit to Throat Addressed By Fever's Stephanie White

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White discussed the one-game suspension that Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas received for her hit to the throat of Fever star Caitlin Clark.

"I think the biggest thing for me is that we have to see it in real time," White said Friday, via ESPN. "I mean, yes, I'm thankful that the league went back and used their ability to go back and review it, but these are things that we can't miss in real time. We've got to be better."

In the second quarter of Indiana's 111-109 loss to Phoenix on Wednesday, Thomas' fist appeared to press down on Clark's throat before she stepped over her.

A foul wasn't called at the time, but the WNBA later reviewed the play and gave Thomas a flagrant foul 2 as well as a one-game suspension.

Still, White was disappointed that officials didn't call the foul as it occurred.

"I was more surprised that it wasn't seen by the officials in real time," White said Friday, per ESPN. "I think the eye discipline, for lack of a better term, sometimes I feel like all the officials are watching the ball and nobody's watching the play. You have a player that's down on the ground, certainly some things are going to happen, so I was very disappointed they didn't see that in real time."

Clark eventually left Wednesday's game in the third quarter due to a back injury and was later ruled out of Indiana's matchup with the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday.

The two-time All-Star is averaging 21.2 points, 8.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game this season while shooting 43.0 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from three-point territory.