Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas called out both the league and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Tuesday over her lack of communication and help over the abuse and threats that she has received in the wake of her suspension and incident with Caitlin Clark last week.
Thomas was suspended for one game last week after “recklessly making contact with her fist” to Clark’s throat in their game last week. No foul was called in the moment, and Thomas said on Tuesday that neither she nor her teammates even realized the play happened in the moment. Thomas described it as a “complete accident.”
But in the days since then, Thomas said that she and her teammates have been subject to abuse online and had their lives threatened. Engelbert and the WNBA, Thomas said, have not said a word to them.
“I didn’t even know I was being suspended until 10 minutes before it was put on social media,” Thomas said, via PHNX Sports. “We still have yet to hear anything yet from Cathy. It’s no surprise. You can see what’s being said on social media.
“It’s unfortunate, but as usual, she remains silent. That’s unfortunate when our lives are being threatened.”
“I didn’t even know I was being suspended until 10 minutes before it was put on social media,” Thomas said, via PHNX Sports. “We still have yet to hear anything yet from Cathy. It’s no surprise. You can see what’s being said on social media.
“It’s unfortunate, but as usual, she remains silent. That’s unfortunate when our lives are being threatened.”
Midway through the second quarter of the Mercury’s 111-109 win over the Fever last week, Clark was on the ground going after a ball when Thomas fell into her. Thomas’ hand appeared to puss off Clark’s throat as she stood up.
No foul was called, and play continued on normally. It wasn’t until a review after the game that Thomas was hit with a flagrant foul, her suspension and a $1,000 fine.
Fever coach Stephanie White ripped the officiating after the game, and said that they told her they didn’t see the foul during the contest. She called it “absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful.” Clark ended up leaving that game early with a back injury.
Thomas didn’t go into detail about the threats and abuse that she’s faced in the days since the incident, but she said it’s beyond anything she’s experienced in the past and goes well beyond the usual trolling that’s expected with being a professional athlete.
“It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball … Now we’re being painted as thugs and there’s death threats out on us,” she said. “It’s really unacceptable, and something that needs to change in this league.”
“It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball … Now we’re being painted as thugs and there’s death threats out on us,” she said. “It’s really unacceptable, and something that needs to change in this league.”
Thomas has averaged 14.7 points, 8.4 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game this season, her 13th in the league. Thomas and the Mercury sit at 7-13 on the season entering Thursday’s game with the Seattle Storm. They’ll take on the Fever again on July 9 in Arizona, too.
While she insists that it was an accident, Thomas said she isn’t even bothered by the fact that the league suspended her. If that’s what they felt was necessary, she said, that’s fine with her.
What bothers her is that, yet again, she feels the league is doing nothing to protect her and others off the court.
“The biggest thing is, it’s just about our safety,” she said. “We’re so concerned about the safety on the court, but time and time again we’re having people threatening our lives … At some point, the league needs to put a stand on it. They’ve came out with ‘no hate’ speech, but what is that going to do?
“At some point, time and time again, players are going through this and the league remains silent. I’m sick and tired of it, and it’s time for them to step up and have our backs in this instance.”
“The biggest thing is, it’s just about our safety,” she said. “We’re so concerned about the safety on the court, but time and time again we’re having people threatening our lives … At some point, the league needs to put a stand on it. They’ve came out with ‘no hate’ speech, but what is that going to do?
“At some point, time and time again, players are going through this and the league remains silent. I’m sick and tired of it, and it’s time for them to step up and have our backs in this instance.”
Discover more from NAIRAVOICE.COM.NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
