Phoenix Mercury player Alyssa Thomas has received public backing from a teammate and an associate head coach following her suspension by the WNBA. The league announced Thursday that Thomas was suspended for "recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark."
Teammate and Coach Express Solidarity
In response to the WNBA's decision, Thomas's teammate, Mack, posted a message on Threads, stating, "It’s FREE AT until AT FREE!! standing with my bestie."
Mercury Associate Head Coach Kristi Toliver also voiced her support on Thursday shortly after the suspension was announced. Toliver shared a photograph of herself with Thomas on her Instagram Story, accompanied by the caption: "When they go low, we go high - Michelle Obama." The quote originates from Michelle Obama's 2016 Democratic National Convention speech, where she endorsed Hillary Clinton and criticized Donald Trump. In its broader context, the former First Lady articulated: "That is what Barack and I think about every day as we try to guide and protect our girls through the challenges of this unusual life in the spotlight… How we insist that the hateful language they hear from public figures on TV does not represent the true spirit of this country. How we explain that when someone is cruel, or acts like a bully, you don’t stoop to their level -– no, our motto is, when they go low, we go high."
DiJonai Carrington's Defense and Previous Interactions
Dallas Wings forward DiJonai Carrington, who was Thomas’s teammate with the Connecticut Sun in 2024, also came to Thomas's defense through several reposts on her X account. One post questioned, "why wasn’t this also a suspension?" referring to Sophie Cunningham’s flagrant 2 foul on Connecticut's Jacy Sheldon. This incident occurred after Caitlin Clark had been poked in the eye by Sheldon and then fouled by Marina Mabrey moments prior. It was noted that Cunningham was ejected during that game, while Thomas did not receive a personal or flagrant foul call during her game; her suspension and the upgrade to a flagrant 2 foul came after a league review.
Carrington additionally reposted a video clip of the flagrant foul that led to Thomas’s suspension, with the caption, "Let’s show the Alyssa Thomas clip in real time…" The reposted clip reportedly did not include alternative angles or slow-motion replays that provided further context for the league's decision.
Carrington has been involved in previous interactions with Caitlin Clark since Clark entered the league. In the 2024 WNBA Playoffs, Carrington poked Clark in the eye. She has also made claims that Clark’s fans "justify racism, bigotry, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia & the intersectionalities of them." During the same playoff series, both Thomas and Carrington alleged that Indiana Fever fans were racist. In a postgame interview, with Carrington present, Thomas stated, "In my 11-year career, I’ve never experienced the racial comments from the Indiana Fever fanbase."
League Dynamics and Player Impact
The WNBA has experienced significant recent growth and a historic new Collective Bargaining Agreement, increasing player earnings. However, observers have pointed to ongoing tensions and physical play within the league, particularly concerning newer players like Caitlin Clark.
Clark has frequently been the subject of aggressive play since joining the league. The physical encounters have raised concerns about player safety and the league's responsibility to protect its athletes. Following the recent incident, Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White confirmed to media on Friday that Clark has been ruled out of Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Sparks due to injury.
