A meeting between WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the WNBPA is reportedly set for Tuesday, triggered by growing online harassment and the shocking fallout from a flagrant 2 foul committed by Phoenix Mercury standout Alyssa Thomas. Thomas and her family faced death threats and racial slurs after her June 24 foul against Caitlin Clark, leading to a one-game suspension and a $1,000 fine. This isn’t just a tough moment; it’s a “temperature check” for the whole league, as WNBPA vice president Breanna Stewart put it.
The “Political Ping-Pong” That’s Hitting Players Hard
The conversation around three-time All-Star Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has been totally wild, right? NBA commissioner Adam Silver nailed it, calling it “incredibly unfair to her” and a “political ping-pong” at CNBC’s Game Plan Summit. Even legendary UConn coach Geno Auriemma said Clark involuntarily became “a cause” and that the fouls aren’t “a referendum on America.” But it’s Alyssa Thomas who truly felt the brunt of this online hate. Her retroactively assessed flagrant 2 against Clark, where Thomas pushed on Clark’s throat, ignited a firestorm of digital persecution. This isn’t just bad fan behavior, it’s straight-up abuse.
Players Demand Action: “Our Lives Are Being Threatened”
WNBPA leaders stepped up big time, initiating this crucial meeting with league leadership to tackle the digital persecution head-on. New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart, who’s also the WNBPA vice president, highlighted how the “security and the negative effects from sports betting is really hitting home for a lot of people.” And Chicago Sky center Elizabeth Williams, the WNBPA secretary, confirmed outreach was happening even *before* Thomas got her one-game ban! The WNBPA’s executive committee and their Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee will all be at the table. This is serious business.
The league didn’t even call a foul in the moment against Thomas, or review the play during the Fever’s home loss. It took some doing, but Thomas eventually got the flagrant 2 for “reckless” contact. She, a 13-year WNBA veteran, called it a “complete accident” on June 30. But what really stung Thomas was the league’s initial silence, despite the abuse she and other Mercury players were dealing with. “It’s unfortunate, but, as usual, she remains silent,” Thomas said of Commissioner Engelbert, adding, “That’s unfortunate when our lives are being threatened.” Hours later, Engelbert finally released a statement, condemning the hate and noting contact with the Mercury. Clark herself spoke out against the harassment on July 3, saying, “The harassment, the hate, none of that is OK.” This Tuesday meeting can’t come soon enough. What’s at stake is nothing less than player safety and the league’s integrity as it grows bigger and bigger.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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