Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas disclosed Tuesday that she has received death threats and racial slurs following her one-game suspension for an incident involving Caitlin Clark. The six-time All-Star described the contact with Clark's throat as a complete accident, adding that players weren't even aware the play occurred until after the game.

Thomas criticized WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for insufficient player protection, stating she didn't learn about her suspension until minutes before it was publicly announced. She emphasized that her main concern isn't the suspension itself, but rather ongoing safety threats including leaked addresses and threatening messages targeting players.

The incident occurred with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter during a game against the Indiana Fever, where no foul was called initially. League officials later deemed it a non-basketball act and issued a flagrant foul 2 penalty. This follows previous tensions between the teams, including six technical fouls and one ejection in their prior matchup.

Engelbert eventually responded with a statement condemning all forms of hate and confirming league security has contacted Phoenix Mercury officials. The Mercury and Fever will meet again on July 9 in Phoenix, as players continue demanding better protection from harassment that extends far beyond typical sports rivalry.