The fallout from Alyssa Thomas's controversial hand-on-neck incident with Caitlin Clark just got a whole lot hotter. Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts didn't mince words when he addressed Fever coach Stephanie White's accusation that Thomas threw cheap shots during their June 24 matchup. Tibbetts called the claim 'ridiculous' and stood firmly behind his star forward.
Speaking to the media Saturday, Tibbetts acknowledged White's right to defend her rookie phenom but took issue with labeling Thomas's actions as cheap. 'The one thing she is not is cheap,' Tibbetts said. 'I respect Steph White; I got to know her with 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.'
He added that White, who coached Thomas for two years, should know better. 'Steph knows AT. She got the opportunity to coach AT for two years, and she knows what AT stands for, and she's about.'
The incident, which left Clark on the ground after Thomas pressed her hand to the rookie's neck, drew widespread condemnation and led to a one-game suspension for Thomas. Tibbetts criticized the league's process, saying, 'I'm disappointed with the suspension process by our league and our leaders in the W. This was not a thorough investigation in my opinion. The people involved were not questioned at all.'
Fans, however, weren't buying the coach's defense. Social media erupted with criticism, with many pointing to Thomas's history of physical play. One user wrote, 'The whole world knows that Alyssa Thomas has been taking cheap shots at players for years! She clotheslined Angel, busted Phee's knees, gave Stewie a black eye, tried to swing an elbow at CC's head and now this.'
Another commenter dismissed Tibbetts as a 'spin doctor' and called for his resignation. A third fan questioned his logic: 'Get this guy a speechwriter. This was How to Talk in circles about everything except the act itself. Defend your player but call out the act.'
The controversy has only intensified the debate around player safety in the WNBA, with Lisa Leslie calling out the league for failing to protect its stars. The Mercury, who won the game 111-109, now face a PR nightmare as they prepare to move forward without Thomas for at least one game.
Whether Tibbetts's fiery defense helps or hurts the situation remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the fans have chosen their side, and they're not backing down.
