Phoenix Mercury Head Coach Nate Tibbetts stated that his organization fully supports forward Alyssa Thomas following her one-game suspension for a flagrant foul against Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. Tibbetts criticized the WNBA's investigation process, suggesting it was not thorough and may have been influenced by external factors.
During a press conference prior to the Mercury's game on Saturday, Tibbetts asserted that neither he, Thomas, nor the team's security staff were interviewed as part of the league's review of the incident. "The people involved were not questioned at all," Tibbetts said, implying that the league should have sought input from those directly involved.
Thomas was suspended for striking Clark in the throat and kneeing her in the groin during a game on June 24. The league cited the actions as "reckless." Tibbetts defended Thomas, emphasizing her competitive nature and stating that she is "not cheap." He also expressed disagreement with Indiana's Head Coach Stephanie White's characterization of the play as a "cheap shot."
Tibbetts also voiced concern over what he perceived as the league's reliance on public reaction, particularly from social media. "I think it’s important not to rely on social media screenshots. This is a slippery slope," he remarked. He suggested that decisions should not be based on factors like a player's status, fan base, or race, stating, "Let's don't base [calls] on generational talent, fan base involvement, All-Star-level players. Let's don't base it on... white players or black players."
Thomas's suspension came after she committed two flagrant fouls against Clark during the Mercury's 111-109 victory over the Fever. Clark has since been ruled out of her team's subsequent games due to a back injury sustained during the matchup.
The WNBA has not commented on Tibbetts' specific claims regarding the investigation process. The league has previously stated that its decisions are based on a review of game incidents and adherence to league rules.