The WNBA’s disciplinary decision was supposed to put an end to it all. However, the conversation around what the league owed Alyssa Thomas only kept widening. Following the incident with Caitlin Clark on June 24, the league suspended the Phoenix Mercury forward for one game and fined her $1,000. However, the suspension wasn’t enough to curb the backlash Thomas received – who, along with her teammates, has been on the receiving end of racial slurs and serious threats. And now, with her public account of how the league responded creating a direct conflict with what league sources have reported, it doesn’t seem like the controversy will end soon. 

USA TODAY reporter Meghan L. Hall added another layer to the story, writing on X:

“A person with knowledge of the situation shared with USA TODAY Englebert reached out to Thomas last week. The person says texts were exchanged, and Englebert offered a call. She also asked league security to connect with the Mercury after hearing about the threats.”

Other sources like ESPN’s Alexa Philippou have reported the same. 

But when Thomas addressed reporters at the team’s practice facility on Tuesday, she told a different story entirely.

“Honestly, I didn’t even know I was being suspended until ten minutes before I was put on social media,” she said. “We still have yet to hear anything from Cathy. It’s no surprise you can see what’s being said on social media. It’s unfortunate. But as usual, she remains silent, and that’s unfortunate when our lives are being threatened.”

The incident itself — Thomas making contact with Clark’s throat during a loose-ball scramble in the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse — was not called in real time. The WNBA reviewed the game retroactively, upgraded it to a Flagrant 2, and handed down the suspension. Thomas, though, has maintained the contact was a complete accident.

“If you watch the playback, no one in the stands, their bench, knew that it happened,” she said. What followed online, though, was severe. 

“It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball,” Thomas said. “A lot of us, myself included, didn’t even know the play took place until after the game. Now we’re being painted as thugs. There’s [threats] out on us. It’s really unacceptable. It’s something that needs to change in this league, and I’m just really sick and tired of it.”

She further drew a clear distinction: “People are sending racial slurs and all types of stuff. There’s a difference between trolling and there’s a difference between hatred. The hatred that we’re experiencing over a play that, honestly, was a complete accident — no one even knew it happened. It’s just unfortunate. The league has to do better in this instance.”

Engelbert eventually broke her silence with a formal statement, provided to Yahoo Sports. 

“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 completely unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community. The league and our security team have been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organization and remain committed to protecting all players.”

The incident has left too many questions unanswered, including the standard the WNBA sets for protecting its players away from the court.