Chiney Ogwumike's defense of Alyssa Thomas reinforced everything critics say about the WNBA media

Dan Dakich reacts to the latest mistreatment of Caitlin Clark by the WNBA. Plus, Darryn Peterson explains only working out for one team before the draft & Shot Clock violation!

It takes remarkable intellectual gymnastics to watch the WNBA suspend Alyssa Thomas for striking Caitlin Clark in the throat and still argue that the controversy was driven more by optics than by the hit itself.

Yet that's exactly where parts of the league's media landed.

When Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas hit Caitlin Clark in the throat last Wednesday, the league eventually corrected the officials' mistake by upgrading the play to a Flagrant 2 and issuing a one-game suspension.

Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas scrambles 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 searched for ways to justify the contact.

Among the most egregious defenses came from former WNBA star and ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike.

On Sunday, Ogwumike framed the incident as a broader discussion about officiating and social media optics.

WNBA SUSPENDS ALYSSA THOMAS FOR 'RECKLESSLY' HITTING CAITLIN CLARK IN THROAT DURING SCRAMBLE

Rather than squarely criticizing Thomas for the hit, she suggested Clark "can embellish contact in certain situations."

The twisted reasoning from Ogwumike lost a lot of people.

LISA LESLIE SAYS WNBA OFFICIALS 'GOT TO DO BETTER' AFTER ALYSSA THOMAS SHOVED FIST INTO CAITLIN CLARK'S THROAT

"This was a marquee matchup. When you look at Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark, they're both dominant players, but Alyssa plays on the edge. I know her, and Caitlin,