Phoenix Mercury player Alyssa Thomas is playing the victim after she was suspended for punching Caitlin Clark in the throat.
Thomas was suspended for 1 game for hitting Clark during the Mercury’s June 24 win against the Indiana Fever.
Video replay shows Thomas punch Clark in the throat and knee her in the groin as she lay helpless on the court.
Check the cheap shot from Bully dirty player, Alyssa Thomas on Caitlin Clark’s neck and knee to her groin area where she was hurt last year. No CALL. pic.twitter.com/j1mOd8sIxT
— CCFC-New season (@sohali2012) June 25, 2026
Clark, 24, left the game with a back injury. She missed the Fever’s win against the Los Angeles Sparks on June 28. There is no timeline for her return.
Thomas, 34, served her suspension on Saturday, June 27. Now she’s playing the victim and complaining that WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is not responding to Thomas getting death threats from Clark’s fans.
“We still have yet to hear anything from Cathy,” Thomas complained during team practice on Tuesday. “It’s no surprise, you can see what’s being said of social media… Its unfortunate but, as usual, [Cathy] remains silent,” she added.
Alyssa Thomas on recent online harassment, via @PHNX_Mercury:
"We still have yet to hear anything from Cathy [Engelbert] … You can see what's being said … As usual, she remains silent, and that's unfortunate when our lives are being threatened."pic.twitter.com/CpAEaKKDty
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) June 30, 2026
Cathy Engelbert responded in a statement on Tuesday, June 30.
A statement from Cathy Engelbert:
“The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate. The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league’s top priority. We are aware of Alyssa Thomas’ comments, and what she and her teammates have experienced is…
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) June 30, 2026
Fans ripped Thomas for playing the victim while ignoring her role in the entire incident. One person tweeted: “Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham had actual stalkers arrested and Cathy Engelbert was silent about their safety. Clown league.”
Another person wrote: “How is this clown playing victim as if she’s not the one who assaulted CC?”
A third person commented: “No one’s life should be threatened over a basketball game. However, when CC fans informed you that not a single player in this league would be able to withstand the online treatment she receives for even a week, this is precisely what we meant.”
No one’s life should be threatened over a basketball game. However, when CC fans informed you that not a single player in this league would be able to withstand the online treatment she receives for even a week, this is precisely what we meant.
— Danielle (3am version) (@failwolf1) June 30, 2026
Caitlin Clark faces harassment every game from the media, fans, and players. She hasn’t complained once. People minimize her suffering as a result. Alyssa Thomas is playing the victim after punching Caitlin in the throat.
— Andy froemel (@FroemelAndy) June 30, 2026
Fans roast Arizona Diamondbacks for inviting Alyssa Thomas to throw first pitch
The Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team is also feeling the wrath of Caitlin Clark fans after the team invited to throw out the first pitch on June 29.
Thomas and teammate Kahleah Copper attended a Diamondbacks’ game on June 29, and Thomas threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the game against the San Francisco Giants.
Furious Caitlin Clark fans took to the Diamondbacks’ social media pages to vent their anger.
One person wrote: “First, your team is terrible and your front office and marketing staff are even worse. Having Alyssa Thomas [throw] out a first pitch after she hits another player in the throat?”
Another person wrote: “Your decision to invite Alyssa Thomas to throw out the opening pitch is divisive. Nothing more than political pandering.”
A third person wrote: “This is totally unacceptable behavior by any professional [to] support violence against women in our society. Promoting Alyssa Thomas to throw out first pitch during Monday’s game against the SF Giants is unthinkable and unacceptable !!!!”
A fourth person commented: “Kahleah Copper is a Mercury star who didn’t punch Caitlin Clark in the throat. She could have thrown out the first pitch. Choosing Alyssa Thomas was intentional.”
Meanwhile, the union that represents WNBA players was forced to delete their website and email servers after furious attacks by Clark’s fans for not protecting the golden goose.
The WNBPA page disappearing is the quickest response we’ve seen from the WNBPA all week. At least now their website is matching their leadership—nowhere to be found. ??????? @WNBA @TheWNBPA pic.twitter.com/NctGzZgK7z
— Evelyn DR (@prettygirle2004) June 30, 2026
Fans also directed their fury toward former NFL player and FS1 sports analyst Emmanuel Acho who said the WNBA would be better without Clark because she’s a “bigger distraction than she is an additive.”
Acho said Caitlin brought the “necessary eyes” to the league, and now, “We don’t necessarily need her anymore.”
Clark’s fans did not hold back. They contacted Acho’s podcast sponsors to complain. And they flooded his social media with angry comments.
??WORST TAKE OF ALL-TIME??
Ex-#NFL LB Emmanuel Acho says the WNBA would be better off without Caitlin Clark because she is a distraction.
“The WNBA would be better without Caitlin Clark, because she is a bigger distraction than she is an additive” pic.twitter.com/MVwHoWRS8u
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) June 29, 2026
Without Caitlin the WNBA goes back to selling minimal tickets. Caitlin Clark jerseys have sold more than LeBron James. Her jersey is the #2 selling jersey. But moron Emmanuel Acho who I’ve never heard of thinks she’s a distraction.
— See you Tamara (@see_you_tamara) June 30, 2026
Emmanuel Acho is dumb. We know what the WNBA is without Caitlin Clark: an irrelevant, boring, and uninteresting league that didn’t turn in a profit in 30 years because nobody watched it nor cared.
CC is the only shot at relevance the league has, but the WNBA itself and idiots…
— Cover3 (@Cover3_mx) June 30, 2026
So who is Emmanuel Acho? What an idiot to say the WNBA would be better off without Caitlin Clark, maybe we would be better off without Emanuel now that he has come out and stated a generational talent like Caitlin Clark could be erased from a career in a game she loves.
— Jerry Nash (@JerryNash3) June 30, 2026