Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas stated Tuesday that she and her family are facing severe online abuse, including death threats and leaked home addresses, following an on-court collision with Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. Speaking to reporters at the Mercury practice facility, Thomas directly criticized WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for remaining silent on the issue of player safety.
Thomas described the June 24 incident as a “complete accident” and expressed frustration with league leadership. “We’re so concerned about the safety on the court, but time and time again, we’re having people threaten our lives,” Thomas said. The initial contact occurred when Thomas’s fist hit Clark’s throat area during a loose ball scramble. On-floor officials did not penalize the play when it happened.
The WNBA office utilized a specific league policy to retroactively review the game footage and assess Thomas a Flagrant Foul 2. Thomas learned of the resulting one-game suspension just 10 minutes before the league announced it on social media. She served the penalty on Saturday during a game against the Toronto Tempo.
Engelbert issued a responsive statement confirming the WNBA security team is actively working with the Phoenix organization to address the harassment. The opposing sideline offered a different perspective on the physical contact, according to the Associated Press. Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White called the play “egregious” and “absolutely unacceptable.” The two teams will meet again on July 9 in Phoenix.