Alyssa Thomas says threats followed WNBA ban over Clark contact
The Mercury forward said she received death threats and racial abuse after a one-game suspension tied to a play involving Caitlin Clark.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
2 min read
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas said she received death threats and racist messages after the WNBA suspended her for one game over contact with Caitlin Clark. Her comments added pressure on the league over player safety away from the court as scrutiny around high-profile games continues.
Thomas told reporters at the Mercury’s practice facility on Tuesday that the abuse followed a play in last week’s game against the Indiana Fever. The WNBA disciplined Thomas after it found that her fist made contact with Clark’s throat during the second quarter, according to The Associated Press.
Thomas said the contact was accidental and that several players did not realize it had happened until after the game. She said the reaction online had gone far beyond criticism of a basketball play, including threats and racial slurs.
The WNBA said Tuesday night that it condemns hate in all forms. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement that the league and its security team had been in touch with the Mercury and remained committed to protecting players, according to AP.
Thomas criticized Engelbert and the league, saying they had not done enough to protect players from harassment. She said her concern was less about the suspension itself than about threats directed at players and personal information being shared online.
The play occurred with 6:52 left in the second quarter of the Mercury’s game against Indiana on Wednesday, AP reported. Officials did not call a foul during live play, but the league later classified the incident as a non-basketball act and assessed Thomas a Flagrant Foul 2.
Under WNBA rules, the league may review games after the fact and upgrade or classify fouls, including plays that were not called as flagrant during the game. Thomas served the suspension Saturday when Phoenix played the Toronto Tempo.
The Fever also raised player-safety concerns after the game, AP reported. Indiana coach Stephanie White said officials should have called the contact during the game and called the lack of a whistle unacceptable.
The matchup came shortly after another meeting between the Mercury and Fever that included six technical fouls and one ejection. Clark received her fifth technical foul of the season in that game, and Indiana asked the league to rescind it, but the WNBA said the technical would stand, according to AP.
Thomas is a six-time All-Star. She said she learned of her suspension shortly before it was announced publicly on social media.
The Mercury and Fever are scheduled to play again July 9 in Phoenix.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.