Overview
- Video from the June 24 game showed Alyssa Thomas’ fist make contact with Caitlin Clark’s throat, and the WNBA upgraded the play on review to a Flagrant Foul 2 with a one‑game suspension.
- Thomas returned to team activities after serving the suspension and told reporters she and teammates have received death threats, racial slurs and leaked addresses.
- The WNBA issued a statement condemning the threats and said its security team has been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organization to help protect players.
- Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White publicly defended Thomas and called the online abuse “absolutely unacceptable,” saying much of the vitriol appears driven by online agitators rather than regular fans.
- The episode has intensified scrutiny of retroactive officiating, social‑media amplification of short clips and reported league discussions about measures such as a task force to counter online hate ahead of the teams’ July 9 meeting.