TORONTO — Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts didn't hold back in defending Alyssa Thomas on Saturday, arguing the WNBA failed to conduct a thorough review before suspending one of the franchise's cornerstone players for one game.
Jun 20, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts watches game action against the Seattle Storm in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The suspension stemmed from an altercation involving Thomas and Indiana Fever 's Caitlin Clark during Wednesday's matchup. The play quickly became one of the league's biggest talking points, even going beyond the WNBA space as various sports personalities weighed in on the situation.
It had led Thomas' teammates and coaches to support the All-Star as the conversation intensified online publicly.
"The Mercury organization would like to let [Thomas] know that she's 100% supported by us," Tibbetts said. "The people in this league know who AT is. She's a competitor, she's a winner, and she's tough. The one thing she is not is cheap."
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) scrambles to get up over Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever, 111-109. © Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Tibbetts also pushed back on comments from Fever coach Stephanie White, who said after Wednesday's game that Clark absorbed two "cheap shots" from Mercury players. Tibbetts noted White coached Thomas for two seasons and said she should know the type of player and person she is.
"Steph knows AT," he said. "She got the opportunity to coach AT for two years, and she knows what AT stands for and what she's about."
Tibbetts said his biggest frustration wasn't the suspension itself but the process behind it, arguing the league failed to conduct a thorough review before issuing discipline.
"This was not a thorough investigation, in my opinion," he said. "The people involved were not questioned at all. It's extremely disappointing. No one from the league called AT, our security team, or myself about what we felt like happened in this situation."
Tibbetts argued the issue extends beyond Thomas missing one game. Thomas is one of Phoenix's leaders and most impactful players, and the head coach is more concerned about the precedent it believes the league set by issuing discipline without hearing from those directly involved. It's about the broader concern that future disciplinary decisions should be based on a complete and consistent review rather than the attention surrounding a high-profile matchup.
Jul 23, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) talks to her had coach Nate Tibbetts after receiving a technical foul against the Atlanta Dream in the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
In his closing remarks, Tibbetts stressed the need for consistency and urged the league not to let outside factors dictate disciplinary decisions.
"Let's don't base it on generational talent, fan base involvement, all-star level players or role players. Let's don't base it off veterans or young players, white players or black players, or international players."
"If this is the standard, make this the standard, even if the roles were reversed in this situation. Make the storyline the storyline and the suspension the same, and let's just be consistent."
