Chiney Ogwumike’s defense of Alyssa Thomas reinforces everything critics say about the WNBA media
It takes a genius gymnast to watch the WNBA stop Alyssa Thomas for punching Caitlin Clark in the throat and still argue that the controversy was driven more by optics than the punch itself.
However, this is exactly where the media sections of this unit resided.
When Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas punched Caitlin Clark in the throat last Wednesday, the league finally corrected the officials’ mistake by upgrading to Flagrant 2 and issuing a one-game suspension.
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas struggles to get up over Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on June 24, 2026. The Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever 111-109. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
Some WNBA analysts have searched for ways to justify the contact.
Among the worst defenses comes from former WNBA star and ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike.
On Sunday, Ogwumike framed the incident as a broader discussion about management and social media communication.
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Instead of criticizing Thomas for hitting, he suggested that Clark could “decorate contact in certain situations.”
The twisted thinking from Ogwumike lost many people.
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“This was a marquee matchup. If you look at Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark, they’re both elite players, but Alyssa plays on the edge. I know her, and Caitlin, at times, can decorate the contact in certain situations,” he said.
ESPN game day analyst Chiney Ogwumike at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., on April 3, 2025. (Photos by Kirby Lee-Imagn)
Los Angeles Sparks players Nneka Ogwumike and Chiney Ogwumike arrive on the red carpet at the 2022 ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, Calif., on July 20, 2022. (Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports)
“Instead, the league found itself in a position where it had to stand up. Instead of controlling the game by management, it ended up responding behind the scenes by doing something it doesn’t normally do, and issued a no-call penalty.”
“I’ll add one more thing. I think that happens a lot because of the optics. Watching the game live, in real time, I didn’t think much of it because the players hit the floor all the time. But when the narrative started to form around the frozen image, that changed everything. I think the league was responding to the optics of that image.”
The reaction to X revealed Chiney’s bias against Clark.
“That’s why no one respects Chiney’s opinion on football,” replied another fan.
More fans responded.
“Wrong. The league made the right call. Chiney has been hating on Caitlin and pushing fake news. This is a PR clean up for AT and no one is buying it.”
“So you decorated Caitlin with a hand on her neck? I’m lost here.”
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By framing the play that led to the suspension as an optics problem, Ogwumike shifted the conversation away from Thomas’ actions and toward the response to them.
Physical play against Clark is often framed as something he needs to embrace rather than something officials should always police.
Comments like Ogwumike’s will likely reinforce that view.
By framing the play that led to the suspension as an optics problem, Ogwumike shifted the conversation away from Thomas’ actions and toward the response to them.
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If enough fans decide the league and its media are more interested in protecting enforcers than protecting Caitlin Clark, they shouldn’t be surprised when they start tuning out.
Send us your comments: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow on X: @alejandroaveela
