The controversy was supposed to quieten down after the WNBA stepped in and handed Alyssa Thomas a one-game suspension. However, it has continued to pick up more steam still. Now, one of Thomas’ own teammates decided to publicly stand by her, adding yet another layer to one of the most divisive storylines this season.

Shortly after the league announced that Thomas would be suspended from the Mercury’s upcoming game on June 27th, Natasha Mack took to Threads and made her stance on the whole drama crystal clear.

“It’s FREE AT until AT FREE!! 🗣️ standing with my bestie 🤞🏾,” she wrote, taking to her Threads account.

“AT” is Alyssa Thomas’ widely used nickname. The phrase “Free AT” is similar to the sports world’s “Free ___” movement, implying that the punishment was unfair or excessive.

Given the nature of the incident itself, fan reactions were always going to be divided. Mack’s post only amplified that conversation, which traces back to a contentious moment during Wednesday night’s game between the Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury.

In a game that already carried plenty of tension after the two teams first locked horns on Monday and combined for several technical fouls, cameras caught Alyssa Thomas making contact with Caitlin Clark’s throat with her fist during a loose-ball scramble. Now, whether fans believe it was intentional or not is a debate of its own. But what truly sparked outrage was that the officials didn’t call so much as a personal foul on the play, and the game carried on as if nothing had happened.

But only if that was the lone controversial moment involving Caitlin Clark that night…

Later in the third quarter, Alyssa Thomas’ teammate Valériane Ayayi got into Clark’s landing space as she went up for a three-point attempt. The Fever star landed awkwardly on the play, immediately grabbing her back before heading to the locker room. She was later ruled out for the remainder of the game with a back injury.

Overall, rather than bringing the controversy to a close, Mack’s post reopened it. As her message spread across social media, fans quickly divided into opposing camps, with some rallying behind Thomas and others criticizing the public show of support.

Fans Split on Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark Incident

“I really hope they wear ‘Free AT’ shirts next game,” one fan wrote, siding with Thomas. While another added, “We stand with AT and Mighty Mercury! 💜🧡.”

Ever since the season began, there has been a growing narrative around Caitlin Clark’s on-court demeanor, with her interactions with opponents, referees, and even coaches often becoming a talking point. Her trash talk, animated gestures, and heated exchanges have repeatedly made headlines, building a perception among some fans that she plays with an edge that crosses lines at times.

That’s exactly why even former NFL player T.J. Ward weighed in on the situation and said:

“She is privileged, she’s a brat. She’s a great player, but that’s what gets her in trouble… She needs to stop being so privileged, so pompous, and needs to have more manners. Be more friendly, be more sisterly.”

So, because of that narrative, a section of fans felt Alyssa Thomas just stood her ground. But on the other hand, many others pushed back just as strongly.

“Standing with your bestie, but don’t want to take accountability of her actions,” another wrote.

Even if some felt Alyssa Thomas’ actions were driven by emotion or competitiveness, that still doesn’t justify what many viewed as a dangerous play on the court. Especially considering Thomas does have a history of similar physical incidents.

Back in 2024, during a game against the Chicago Sky, she was ejected after a flagrant foul on Angel Reese when she made contact around the throat area during a hard offensive rebound battle.

So when the referees did not even stop the game with a personal foul call during Clark’s incident in real time, it only intensified criticism in a season where officiating consistency has already been under heavy scrutiny. And that’s exactly why the debate didn’t stop there, with fans continuing to push back and voice where they stood on the incident itself.

“You stand with dirty plays and no accountability? Good to know,” one fan wrote, addressing Mack directly.

While some continue to defend Alyssa Thomas, others remain firm that, regardless of narrative or perception, the line between competitive basketball and dangerous contact was crossed on Wednesday night.

But with emotions still running high online, this debate is far from over.