Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts is not pleased with how he came to learn of Alyssa Thomas’s one-game suspension on Thursday.
Thomas was suspended for “recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area” of Caitlin Clark during the team’s 111-109 win over the Indiana Fever on Wednesday.
Tibbetts slammed the league’s process, claiming the Mercury were blindsided by a suspension that lacked a thorough investigation.
Tibbetts addressed the situation during his pregame availability before their clash against the Toronto Tempo, making it clear that he did not appreciate how the league’s higher-ups handled the matter.
“I’d like to hit my disappointment with the suspension process by our league and our leaders in the W,” he said. “This was not a thorough investigation, in my opinion. The people involved were not questioned at all.”
He was also “extremely disappointed” that no one from the league office reached out to him, Thomas, or the team’s security detail during the investigation. Tibbetts said:
“There is a protocol to be followed. Just coming from the NBA, there’s been many investigations that I’ve heard about that there was calls on both sides, and that was not done in this situation, and that’s disappointing.”
No foul was called by the referees when the play actually happened. But after Clark exited the game, the sequence sparked massive debate across social media. Tibbetts heavily criticized it, warning that it is “important not to rely on social media screenshots” to judge physical plays. He said:
“This is a slippery slope, and let’s watch the whole play, the whole game. We’ve got more people in our eyes. It’s a great league. I hope that we can all agree that consistency is the main thing in how we call these games, react to situations like this with consistency. Let’s don’t base it on generational talent, fan base involvement, All-Star-level players or role players. Let’s don’t base it off veterans or young players, or white players or Black players or international players. If this is the standard, make this the standard, even if the rules were reversed in this situation. Make the storyline and the suspension the same. And let’s just be consistent.”
Tibbetts has a fair argument. Whether Thomas deserved the suspension or not remains up for debate, but the league definitely needs a consistent standard for handing out discipline.
Nate Tibbetts Hits Back at Stephanie White’s “Cheap Shot” Claims
Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts responded to Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White’s criticism by defending Alyssa Thomas.
White had previously blasted the referees during her pregame interview. In response, Tibbetts gave a blunt reply to White’s complaints regarding two uncalled fouls on Caitlin Clark, which White had labeled as “cheap shots.”
“The people in this league know who AT is. She’s a competitor, she’s a winner, and she’s tough. The one thing she is not is cheap,” he said.
Tibbetts went on to add that White should be well aware of how Thomas plays, considering she coached her for two years during her time with the Connecticut Sun. He said:
“I respect Steph White. I got to know her through USA Basketball. I respect her as a coach and a person, and I understand her sticking up for Caitlin in this situation. But to say that we had two cheap shots in that game, to me, is ridiculous. Steph knows AT. She got the opportunity to coach AT for two years, and she knows what AT stands for and what she’s about.”
Phoenix will play in Toronto without Thomas. Her next chance to suit up will come after a week-long break when the Mercury return home for a three-game homestand, starting with the Seattle Storm next Thursday.
Read More:
Iowa Senator Slams WNBA Referees Over “Ill-Treatment” of Caitlin Clark After Alyssa Thomas Incident
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