Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark was involved in a controversial play last week when the Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas appeared to shove her fist into Clark’s neck. The clip went viral and generated a week’s worth of hot takes and discourse.
Thomas was ultimately suspended for one game, and she recently revealed that she has been harassed and threatened since the incident. Fever head coach Stephanie White spoke out about these threats and anyone using the Clark-Thomas incident to spread hate.
Stephanie White Calls Out Anyone Using Caitlin Clark-Alyssa Thomas Incident to Spread Hate
On Wednesday, White spoke at length and speculated on who is driving most of the hate toward Thomas.
“First and foremost, it’s absolutely unacceptable,” White said. “I think as a league, as a whole, there’s been so much more toxicity, racism, homophobia, straight out nonsense. Hate nonsense. And it is absolutely unacceptable. Most of this coming from the online community. Most of this, in my heart of hearts, I believe [is] not coming from WNBA fans, Indiana Fever fans.
“I believe this is people who are using our league, using our players to further divisive agendas. It’s not acceptable. … Maybe this is my privilege and my being naive, but I truly believe that it is an online community that is using our league, that is using our players, to continue to further divisive, hateful narratives.”
Her full video, transcript below. pic.twitter.com/vaa4LfGWrs
— JJ (@JJVibe) July 1, 2026
White directly called out the “online community” for the reported harassment and even death threats sent Thomas’ way following the controversial play involving Clark.
“It’s not hard to not be a jerk, and if you are one of these people that are online doing this, don’t call yourself a WNBA fan,” White added. “Our league is about inclusiveness, our league is about competition, our league is about elevating women, elevating marginalized communities, including and being inclusive of all different walks of life. That is what our league has always been about from day one.
“That is what our league will continue to be about, and we will continue to compete at a high level, hold ourselves to a higher standard, continue to be on the forefront of social norms, and we will continue to support one another collectively as a league – players, coaches, staff, support staff, everyone. We’re about elevating. We aren’t about demeaning, we aren’t about continuing this narrative, and it’s just absolutely unacceptable.”
Clark has become an almost polarizing figure in WNBA circles due to the discourse surrounding her. The Thomas incident is just the latest Clark storyline to take over the WNBA airwaves, with many trying to insert politics or race into the narratives.
Now, White has made it abundantly clear that she doesn’t want anyone attacking Thomas or using Clark and the Fever to spread hate and division.
