Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas publicly criticizes WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after Thomas says she has not heard from the commissioner despite a wave of online abuse following an on-court incident involving Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark. Multiple outlets report that Thomas faced racial threats and hateful messages after a foul that led to a one-game suspension, which she attributes to the Clark contact incident. Thomas also says she was blamed for the league’s lack of response, and she links her concerns to what she describes as insufficient attention to her situation.
In response, Engelbert issues a statement condemning “hate” directed at Thomas. The statement comes hours after Thomas’ comments. One report also describes Engelbert being booed during a trophy presentation at a New York Liberty game after she posed for a photo with NFL legend Tom Brady, though the league later reiterates its stance on player safety. Across the coverage, the WNBA acknowledges that the treatment Thomas received is unacceptable and emphasizes prioritizing player safety in response to the threats.
