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By Megan Armstrong
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Phoenix Mercury All-Star forward Alyssa Thomas unassumingly and unwilling came under fire when the WNBA suspended her for one game for "recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area" of Indiana Fever All-Star guard Caitlin Clark during Phoenix's win in Indiana last Wednesday, June 24.
The play in question happened in the second quarter, when Clark tumbled to the floor, and Thomas pounced in a presumed effort to go after the loose ball. In the process, Thomas' fist made contact with Clark's neck. A foul was not called during the game, but Thomas was retroactively assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and one-game suspension.
Thomas served her one-game suspension for the Mercury's win in Toronto on Saturday, June 27, and made her first public comments about the whole ordeal while meeting with reporters on Tuesday, June 30.
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In part, Thomas called out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for remaining "silent" while Thomas and other Mercury players are "having people threatening our lives, leaking addresses out there, putting crazy pictures that have nothing to do with basketball." Thomas disclosed that she had been victim of racial slurs and received death threats since her play on Clark.
Within a few hours, Engelbert responded.
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“The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate," Engelbert said in a written statement, per USA Today's Meghan L. Hall. "The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league's top priority. We are aware of Alyssa Thomas' comments, and what she and her teammates have experienced is completely unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community. The league and our security team have been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organization and remain committed to protecting all players."
Hall also reported that texts were exchanged between Engelbert and Thomas last week, with Engelbert offering to call her. Engelbert also mobilized WNBA security to "connect with the Mercury" after learning of death threats.
Clark was ruled out of the Fever's win over the Los Angeles Sparks last Saturday, June 27, with a back injury and has not been made available to the media since exiting the Fever's loss to Phoenix on June 24. Clark has been managing a back issue all season, missing two games so far. The Fever aren't scheduled to play again until visiting the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, July 5.
Check out clips of Thomas' commentary below.
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