USA: WNBA chief condemns hate targeting Alyssa Thomas | JQJO

USA – WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert issued a statement late Tuesday condemning “any and all forms of hate” after Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas said she and her teammates had been subjected to unacceptable behavior from some fans. The comments came shortly after the league retroactively upgraded a foul on Thomas to a Flagrant 2 and suspended her for one game for what it called a “non-basketball act,” after she struck Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark in the throat during a loose-ball scramble. Engelbert said the safety and well-being of everyone in the WNBA community is the league’s top priority and that league security has been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organization to address the situation.

USA – The incident involving Thomas and Clark initially went unpenalized on the floor, a decision that Fever coach Stephanie White later called “absolutely unacceptable,” and Clark left the game with a back injury. After the suspension was announced, Thomas used her media availability on Tuesday to criticize both the public reaction and the league’s handling of the discipline, saying her team was being unfairly characterized and that she had been subjected to severe online harassment. Thomas also said she did not realize she had been suspended until about 10 minutes before the decision was posted on social media, and she faulted Engelbert for remaining silent until issuing the late-night statement condemning hate directed at players.