The social media discourse over what took place during the Indiana Fever game against the Phoenix Mercury has apparently reached an unfortunate peak. After news came out revealing that Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas was receiving death threats for her throat hit on Caitlin Clark, Indiana head coach Stephanie White came out in support and delivered a strong statement condemning the online abuse.
Alyssa Thomas delivered a hit on the Fever guard in the second quarter of Phoenix’s win over Indiana this past weekend. The play was not reviewed by the officials and would later result in a one-game suspension for Thomas.
She spoke after receiving the one-game suspension, telling the media that the incident with Caitlin Clark “was a complete accident,” while also stating she has been the subject of a torrent of sickening abuse, including “being painted as thugs” and receiving “death threats.”
Fever coach Stephanie White spoke out against the threats in a Wednesday presser and condemned those who were directing hate and malice toward the six-time All-Star.
“I think first and foremost, it’s absolutely unacceptable,” White said. “You know, I think as a league, as a whole, there’s been so much more toxicity, racism, homophobia, straight out like nonsense, hate nonsense. And it is absolutely unacceptable.”
White made sure not to blame true Indiana Fever or Caitlin Clark fans, stating instead that outside trolls are “using our league, using our players, to further divisive agendas.”
“Most of this is coming from the online community. Most of this, in my heart of hearts, I believe, is not coming from WNBA fans or Indiana Fever fans. I believe that this is people who are using our league, using our players, to further divisive agendas. It’s not acceptable. We have to continue to protect our players. We’ve got to continue to support our players and our league. We get to play a basketball game. And AT [Alyssa Thomas] was exactly right.”
Thomas missed the Mercury’s 89-80 win over the Toronto Furies on Friday and will return for the game when they play the Seattle Storm at home on Thursday. The Mercury will also face the Fever once again on July 9 at home.
Fever coach Stephanie White further pleads for death threats against Alyssa Thomas to stop
White went on to say that fans always have a “love-hate” relationship with the players and teams they love, and that it is always going to come with criticism.
“But it’s not hard to not be a jerk. And if you are one of these people that are online doing this, do not call yourself a WNBA fan. Our league is about inclusiveness. Our league is about competition. Our league is about elevating, elevating women, elevating marginalized communities, including and being inclusive of all different walks of life.”
White’s comments come at a much-needed time, as the discourse around Clark and Thomas continues to get ugly. Hopefully, her words will be absorbed and heeded by the insensitive masses threatening Thomas and her family’s livelihoods. It is also worth noting that White was Thomas’s head coach during her two years in Connecticut, so she knows firsthand how hurtful the past few days have been for her.
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