The drama between the Phoenix Mercury and Caitlin Clark is far from over. After the WNBA suspended Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for shoving her fist into Clark's throat during Wednesday's game, the team's associate head coach, Kristi Toliver, lit a match on social media—and now fans are calling for her suspension too.
Toliver posted a photo of Thomas on Instagram with the caption: “When they go low, we go high.” The message appeared to defend Thomas, who was suspended for what the league called “recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area” of Clark. Fans quickly interpreted Toliver's words as a sarcastic jab at the league and at Clark herself.
The backlash was immediate. Social media users flooded Toliver's post with demands that the WNBA take action against the coaching staff. “Is this what you meant?” one fan wrote, quoting the post. “For Thomas to go for the throat aka high?? Both should be indefinitely suspended.”
Another fan called the situation “sick” and said “delusional people are at all levels in the WNBA.” Others went further, writing, “The WNBA needs to suspend Natasha Mack and Associate Head Coach Kristi Toliver immediately.”
The incident has reignited debates about player safety and the treatment of Clark, the league's biggest star. Fever coach Stephanie White voiced her frustration after the game, saying, “Absolutely disrespectful. … The fist in the throat is crazy. It’s dangerous. When you have these things continue to happen time and time and time again, eventually it gets frustrating.”
Clark is now sidelined with a back injury, and it's unclear if she'll be ready when the Fever and Mercury meet again on July 9. Some fans are even calling for Thomas to be suspended for the rest of the season, while others have vowed to boycott games in protest. The situation has sparked broader conversations about whether the WNBA is doing enough to protect its stars.
The Mercury have rallied around Thomas, with forward Natasha Mack posting on Threads: “It’s FREE AT until AT FREE.” The team's defiance has only fueled the fire, and now fans are pressuring the league to hold Toliver accountable for what they see as an endorsement of dangerous play.
What's Next for the WNBA?
The league has already shown it's willing to act, handing down a one-game suspension to Thomas after a postgame review. But with Mercury staff now openly questioning that decision, the pressure is mounting for further discipline. Whether the WNBA will respond to the outcry and suspend Toliver remains to be seen—but fans are making their voices heard loud and clear.
