Following the suspension of star player Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts expressed his “disappointment” in how the process had been handled Saturday.
The WNBA on Friday handed Thomas a one-game suspension for her actions during a Mercury game against the Indiana Fever.
In that contest, Thomas was seen per the WNBA’s language as “recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area” of Fever guard Caitlin Clark as Clark laid on the court. No foul was called on the play, and Fever coach Stephanie White was quoted as calling the play a “cheap shot.”
Tibbetts on Saturday defended his player and expressed dismay over not having a chance to provide the WNBA his version of events.
“I’d like to hit on my disappointment in the suspension process by our league and our leaders in the W,” Tibbetts said. “This was not a thorough investigation in my opinion. The people involved were not questioned at all.”
The incident occurred with 6:52 left in the second quarter of the Mercury’s 111-109 triumph over host Indiana. Video of the incident circulated throughout social media Wednesday and in the ensuing days, with multiple people calling for suspension.
As much as I enjoy watching the WNBA, that was one of the most dangerous cheap shots I have seen since I started following the league. The contact from Alyssa Thomas on Caitlin Clark appeared intentional and had the potential to result in a serious injury.
It is unacceptable… pic.twitter.com/lQyGauvbtN— Jaime Lardis (@JaimeLardis) June 25, 2026
Thomas served the suspension Saturday as Phoenix defeated the Toronto Tempo, 89-80, and her teammates likewise came to her defense in postgame interviews.
“We’re with AT,” guard Kahleah Copper said. “We just wish it would have been handled the right way. We wish somebody also called her and checked on her and made sure that she was okay. I don’t think it played out how it should have professionally.”
–Field Level Media
