# Caitlin Clark leaves Fever’s loss with a back injury, doesn’t return after 3rd-quarter scare

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-25 14:54 UTC · Category: Sports · Sources: 10 · Current Velocity: 13.44

## Executive Summary
Caitlin Clark is sidelined for the Indiana Fever's game against the Los Angeles Sparks following a back injury and a controversial hit to the throat.

## Intelligence Brief
Caitlin Clark exited a physical game against the Phoenix Mercury during the third quarter due to a back injury. Additionally, reports from Yahoo Sports and other outlets indicate she suffered an apparent punch to the throat during the contest. Fever coach Stephanie White has confirmed Clark will miss the upcoming game against the Los Angeles Sparks.


Coverage from PBS and Fox News reports that the WNBA has suspended Alyssa Thomas for one game for the hit to Clark's throat. ESPN notes that Coach White appreciates the league's review of the incident. Meanwhile, Yahoo Sports and the Washington Times highlight backlash regarding a social media post made by the Phoenix Mercury following Clark's injury exit.


Attention now turns to the return timeline for Clark, which is being updated by the Fever head coach. Further developments regarding the league's handling of the incident are being discussed by commentators such as Robert Griffin III.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### Why is Caitlin Clark missing the game against the Los Angeles Sparks?
Coach Stephanie White confirmed Clark will miss the game due to a back injury.

### What disciplinary action was taken regarding the hit to Caitlin Clark?
The WNBA suspended Alyssa Thomas for one game after she punched Clark in the throat.

### How did the Phoenix Mercury respond to the incident?
The team faced backlash and was described by Yahoo Sports as posting a 'classless tweet' after Clark exited the game.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
WNBA, Caitlin Clark, Alyssa Thomas, Cheap, Alyssa Thomas WNBA, Robert Griffin III Sounds Off, Handling of Caitlin Clark, Los Angeles Sparks Fever

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Fever | Game Recap: Indiana Fever Dominate Sparks in 111-87 Win | 2026-06-26 19:20 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiakFVX3lxTFAzbndObFdmU0RRUUpJZW9ZMmlpaEItTkozNTNsVHBPWVBuMVJBdUhoU09NMkpNZXJXaG9id25FRHlvTTFJUGhuZTFRSGhUellQTVpfS19YQkNoc01YN1BGQktmRU1namhCamc?oc=5) |
| ESPN | Fever 111-87 Sparks (Jun 27, 2026) Game Recap | 2026-06-26 19:20 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiXEFVX3lxTE5rdHhBQVBnNmpNZHcxQXo2V1o5TXdxbm9Wa1BXOV9uLWN0TFRPNlFXMkV5UThiNV8yZ0dQUFFCRVlCbTFjYWx4eGdRRjhnSEllX3RvOGhkbGU5ak50?oc=5) |
| CBS Sports | Los Angeles Sparks vs. Indiana Fever Live Score and Stats | 2026-06-26 19:20 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMie0FVX3lxTE9nY0dnSFRybUxXSjBpcmhCVEdDc0Z2bG5TRUJ4ZDFfUXQ4Wmp0R2t2dElBLU5STVF3VFYyemJYOVNrVGZ0MS03eWZEOE1Za0FDbExDUkM1SFJpY19Ma0JuYVU1a1lRNm51T3ljeVlxQ0hpSFRad2k3Mk42WQ?oc=5) |
| IndyStar | Caitlin Clark to miss time after injury vs Mercury. Local to start for Fever vs Sparks | 2026-06-26 19:20 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijgJBVV95cUxOTm1BWnc1T2p4ajhOeHFNeURGcFJHMl9fdHA2c2xOUDlKWVFMY1hxZ3VnTmJCVHlKWVVzT09MQ0FZVzdJbFY1VU0tWHpqbGZSVEk4bmphak5QdTNpWVM1dzd5QlZIZnpVdEFGWW51Z19DUklwb2NYaHJ1aXdDOFlmRy1KVHluNVRvZmgxbVlZSF9HYzhwTlloUlhnRTVJdHV1S0NCeUVSTWlOOWtsRy1VN21OTVhVSG5VWTlMY1E5LW9qY2l6SGI1SFR5bVBDeko2eEl5SWppUmxqWDVhRVR5QUxaSnNNRlpIOXNyMlN1UGNPdVV0c0x5MWdrNmVXUHhRRm5UaTZKYUFfdUpCbVE?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Caitlin Clark Fans Staging Boycott For Saturday's Fever Game | 2026-06-26 19:20 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFBVV95cUxQSVVWc3lXckJ2QkR5amdEOXVIcElubjJnN3FmWWVnRGNFS0V0NnRhdlM1UldrUVRsMFNScmwwWkxMTk9zY0gxQVdhQ2VRTzRDZThzLUdXZFRMM29iQTZrOGJQZVZySS1mMkhzVm5tM0lBVmtqVFJEcWJ3elB0NmNqWTZJTUd0eUU1aUU4?oc=5) |
| CBS Sports | Sparks, Fever both missing prolific scorers for Saturday clash | 2026-06-26 19:20 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxNNElxR0c3ZVF5VUVXSTRZVGJnZjFnc3YxTTJWUjFsbUdTcm9uRG8wS0tZVzZQaXdacjU1MzkwN0JZV0thSUstN2dYU2dlc2hjUzdWUE8xdUpmRTFlM1lhU3VKb3RZd3ZNUDlqaTk2SEUzWVg5VlUzVVZMZlJYQWlmNXZYZTlOQ2Y0ejZqUFZUblRJMUE4SVhUV1pwVTFKS0k?oc=5) |
| Fox News | Who is Alyssa Thomas? WNBA star suspended for punching Caitlin Clark in the throat | 2026-06-26 19:20 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgFBVV95cUxPR1F2TkhOWGFQbTN4Q0ljbHVBTDMxWUVFc2JZeWlYZHJIQ0ZFNHNtdVR1X25QaWhSVWlsOUM2UkRPYjlocFMtYnVWalBjWXE1U2RqYWQxdXUtaGxtZTBWVms1X2Z2TV96OHFpTzBPUzZjM1lIenh6SHQ0UUVCc3dWdXdUcnhuVFg2VWFYM0NkLURzc0lKTl9mN2p3?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | “It Was a Cheap Shot”: Robert Griffin III Sounds Off on WNBA’s Handling of Caitlin Clark | 2026-06-26 19:20 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxON09aVjhDaldYRE1iRnQ1SWQzeHZRWmxxYWpBSUFDSDdqTWtlbHpaS2wzcC1Eci1oVmlYeVNsY0hOVldUa21aQkI3YVpmTlp1U3hNN05zdU5xT1ZRb0hqb0NPUXpQOUYxeGFOVlVEYzRnakdKUUg5WXNKVzFjN3o1cTFZZ28?oc=5) |
| PBS | WNBA suspends Alyssa Thomas for 1 game over hit to Caitlin Clark's throat | 2026-06-26 19:20 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxNRDlOX1dWUnFKMmRNdEtNNmZuMTJBMWljVy1YdHFCRVRXTVB2WmRxNHhXY0k5dEdBS3dHMWZ0TklEbWJDckhBYTBwdTdlTzJUOElWSkZYeGZ2QkNRbExGb0hEN2lIdVdKbUdnOHBuaDZoc1ktUFRqSHVDTWJkaWxxUURnUkVRektBMlBwb0xOWlZEQTYxek05eUl4X1pFMmVOenV3cmFUYV94MjZ5?oc=5) |
| Fox News | Caitlin Clark to miss game against Los Angeles Sparks, Fever coach Stephanie White confirms | 2026-06-26 19:20 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiugFBVV95cUxPVU1HcXVDcXpoRGhXQ1QxNVRydWV2Z1hfLVdVZlotcUVfYUpFWUVXelU2WHV5SmtDdE05elVaV3NZekxGcGJvUmFiVkFsalRWbHczY3NEb3NWNkZJa21CRHdhdWtGc3NzR3FXTUJ1Q0NxZDBzVGQwejZkdFAycGNiRXFGMHVjMG4zODNSem9PODN2MTlYV2JXSEcxVHFZdFpfT2cwZ3BDNENxS1N6bkxMeVlESnUyeUxVeXc?oc=5) |
| ESPN | Fever coach appreciates WNBA review of Caitlin Clark hit | 2026-06-26 19:20 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxPRGhYM3lPbDZKS1F6MWRRcVBhM041WWZqa0NpbzFYV2xLTXRoamJORTZCTktFVjBnZmlLaFNGdDhsSjdYWnVNV1Fuc1JoVGZadUM4UEhRUVR0N3UwbGFEZ3lZMDRhcjBjVWtuWU1ueFQyRGd2OHBpRWx4V0hHclVwdHluNThjTzZaX2lrbjFRYUJSUzVoby1wRllaaS1ZMC1w?oc=5) |
| Bleacher Report | Caitlin Clark Out vs. Sparks with Back Injury, Fever HC Updates Return Timeline | 2026-06-26 19:20 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxQN0RISjZibURpQmtzOHRWdTY0RlVPM3RWYXBESnZNRzlOa0c1d3YyUmFZT2pISXNoTDllUFpQTDJ6ZlpqbVNjZUZOcmhwOEM5eEFXTXFLdGJMclNMSTJYMU5PMC1VRkE1XzBXME9qT1ZXZHJhb2dHcl9tZS1oMEFTMlhPeXB4OGo2UllmaFBYQ195S2FNRU4yUGw2SW9WNzVpWW1zR1lSbzVMalJTQmtEb1V2a0xsbUV1?oc=5) |
| Washington Times | Phoenix Mercury draw backlash over social media post after Caitlin Clark exits with injury | 2026-06-25 04:30 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxOdXhNbThQS21VdVBzTk13bDhOUTJxMHhaX2ptb1JPYkdQQnVGdGNIZzZRQVlPQURoQjJYMFNqb3Nua050RkU3R0xmallFTTVXRWVLem04bEZIMFR0TnhaV3FPXzB0R0xMYnN6YU5DUzhHUWFMMlI3a0wxcWJLOVBTVHVGYUswSkQyZWU5N2JEaEswdUhsUUc4X2d5Q1cwNF9HcnRjUEN0d1NrSlg2Qi12alFLVjc1YTRo?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Caitlin Clark's Status Unclear After Apparent Throat Punch, Back Injury | 2026-06-25 04:30 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiugFBVV95cUxPYVdFMUVKZVUxUXRld3B3MkdFZTEyeHBXMmpPQ19VWE04RUFGV2liZjhyQXRGdXVSWmdYNkpiWE9VVlpab1J3RFFVdTZEdzctYkM4cWx3d2lHcnU1em9lN0NMUGhfTm44em1MWmZVQ3BIcVBEU0dJWm5LSnNvTmlabUw2RU1EdC1OalZDQUZCdHc2ZGZJRGVranpOZmtiY2I5YXJ6NFRUdTBZQ2F2V0dqaXY1LVhRQUFpU2c?oc=5) |
| ESPN | Fever's Clark leaves physical game with Mercury due to back | 2026-06-25 04:30 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimwFBVV95cUxNSjRCa3R2N0xmRzEteUxHSGVyT09XOEVCV0taWXlhbVMtOTUxUUdSeFVZeHJScENXOXVrNndPaHBYT1NMak9YRWx1S0dYQ2RJbXByNUhMMTNmS0xZbUYzTi1XWVA4S0xSZEwyVTVoOUwwYW5KeHdqenNwZGtDZFpiMUVwc2twUENpSFFTbkpqa2NRalBhMW1hWjVJSQ?oc=5) |

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