WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert issued a statement Tuesday condemning online harassment directed at Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas. The response came after Thomas publicly criticized league leadership for its silence.
Alyssa Thomas Details Death Threats Following Caitlin Clark Incident
Thomas revealed she faced racial slurs and death threats after receiving her one-game suspension last week. The league penalized her for a retroactive Flagrant 2 foul involving contact to the throat of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. Before Engelbert's statement dropped, Thomas expressed frustration with the lack of action.
"We still have yet to hear anything from Cathy," she told reporters. "As usual, she remains silent."
Hours later, Engelbert confirmed that the WNBA security team has been in touch with the Mercury to help protect the players.
"The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate," she said.
"The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league’s top priority. We are aware of Alyssa Thomas's comments, and what she and her teammates have experienced is completely unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community."
Phoenix Coach Pushes Back on Caitlin Clark Foul Investigation
Still, Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts pushed back on the league's handling of the Alyssa Thomas suspension incident altogether.
"This was not a thorough investigation in my opinion," he said. Tibbetts also rejected Fever coach Stephanie White's characterization of the play against Clark as a "cheap shot."
"The one thing she is not is cheap," he said of Thomas.
Meanwhile, teammates Kahleah Copper and Lexi Held rallied around Thomas, with Copper saying the team wished "somebody also called her and checked on her" after the game.
The ongoing tension highlights growing concerns over player safety and digital abuse across the league as the WNBA's popularity continues to grow.
