Phoenix Mercury player Alyssa Thomas said she has received death threats and racial abuse following a foul on Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark.
The incident highlights growing tensions between some fans and veteran players as the league experiences a surge in popularity and viewership. Thomas, a six-time WNBA All-Star [1], is now calling for the league to improve its protections for Black players against online harassment.
The threats followed a play during a regular-season game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Indiana Fever this week [2]. Thomas said the contact with Clark was an accident, and she did not realize an incident had occurred until after the game ended [3]. Despite the nature of the play, social media users targeted Thomas with racial slurs and threats to her life [4].
Thomas directed her criticism toward WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, suggesting the league has not done enough to shield athletes from this type of abuse [5]. The player expressed frustration with the current environment and the lack of systemic support for those targeted by fans.
"It's something that needs to change in this league and I'm just really sick and tired of it," Thomas said [6].
Reports of the fallout began appearing on July 1 and 2 [2]. The surge of abuse follows a pattern of intense scrutiny surrounding rookie Caitlin Clark, where players involved in physical plays with her often face significant backlash from the public [4]. Thomas said that the situation is unfortunate and reflects a broader issue within the sport's current culture [7].
“"It's something that needs to change in this league and I'm just really sick and tired of it."”
This situation underscores the volatile intersection of the WNBA's rapid growth and the targeted harassment of its veteran players. As the league's profile rises due to high-profile rookies, the resulting fan intensity has manifested as racialized abuse toward Black athletes. The demand for league intervention suggests that current player safety protocols are insufficient for the digital age of sports fandom.
