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By Megan Armstrong
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Phoenix Mercury coaches and players swarmed to Alyssa Thomas' defense after the WNBA suspended Thomas for "recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area" of Indiana Fever All-Star guard Caitlin Clark during the Mercury's win over the Fever on June 24.
Thomas, an All-Star, All-Defensive, and All-WNBA forward, spoke for herself Tuesday, revealing the extent of the vitriol she endured over the past week and calling on the WNBA to better protect its players.
"Being suspended, just the whole narrative that's being painted out there, it's unfortunate that it's come to this over basketball," Thomas said, per Dylan Kane. "A lot of us, myself included, didn't even know that the play took place until after the game. Now, we're being painted as thugs, and there's death threats out on us. It's really unacceptable."
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Thomas revealed that her and her teammates' families and children have been "threatened," and she has received "racial slurs."
"There's a difference between trolling and there's a difference between hatred, and the hatred we're receiving over a play that was, honestly, a complete accident — no one even knew what happened — it's just unfortunate," Thomas added. "The league has to do better."
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Thomas specifically called out WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, noting she's not surprised that Engelbert "remains silent," but clarified that she's not upset over her suspension, which she served over the weekend.
"The biggest thing is it's just about our safety," Thomas said. "We're so concerned about the safety on the court, but time and time again, we're having people threatening our lives, leaking addresses out there, putting crazy pictures that have nothing to do with basketball. [...] Time and time again, players are going through this, and the league remains silent, so I'm sick and tired of it. It's time for them to step and have our backs."
Thomas also said that this will not impact how she plays moving forward because "basketball is meant to be physical."
In the second quarter of the Mercury and Fever game in Indianapolis on June 24, Clark stumbled to the floor in the lane. Thomas crashed for the ball, and her closed fist contacted Clark's neck as she was trying to get up. Thomas also stepped over Clark.
A foul was not called on the play. Clark later exited the game in the third quarter with what the team designated as a "back" issue. Clark has been managing an unspecified back ailment all season.
Along with her one-game suspension, the WNBA retroactively assessed Thomas a Flagrant 2 foul the following day. Thomas sat out the Mercury's win over Toronto Tempo on June 27.
Clark was ruled out for the Indiana's win against the Los Angeles Sparks on June 27, and she has not been made available to the media since the Mercury game. Fever head coach Stephanie White said Tuesday, June 30, that Clark would not participate in practice but did not provide any further update on her injury status.
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