The Alyssa Thomas suspension wasn’t just a WNBA decision. According to multiple sources, NBA commissioner Adam Silver personally pushed Cathy Engelbert to take action.
Thomas sat out one game after a hard foul on Caitlin Clark in a matchup between the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever. No foul was called during the game. The league upgraded it afterward and handed down a one-game ban. But here’s where it gets interesting: Engelbert reportedly didn’t think a suspension was warranted at first.
Tom Friend of the Sports Business Journal reported that Engelbert initially felt that because no foul was called on the court, following up with a suspension seemed too harsh. Silver disagreed. He saw clear evidence of a flagrant foul, felt bad for Clark, and told Engelbert she needed to act.
Commissioner vs. Commissioner
This is not a small thing. The WNBA operates under the NBA’s umbrella, and Silver is Engelbert’s boss in practice if not always in public perception. So when Silver speaks, Engelbert listens. Sources described Engelbert as trying to balance not looking like she was favoring Clark while also not alienating other players. That balancing act has been difficult.
It didn’t help that after the suspension, Thomas started receiving death threats. Her home address got leaked online. People sent her what she described as crazy pictures unrelated to basketball. She made that clear to reporters.
“I think the biggest thing is, it’s just about our safety,” Thomas said. “We’re so concerned with safety on the court, but time and time again we’re having people threatening our lives. Leaking addresses out there, putting crazy pictures that have nothing to do with basketball. At some point the league has to take a stand on it.”
Engelbert’s Future
There’s been talk that this could be Engelbert’s last season as WNBA commissioner. Some thought she’d be forced out before the new collective bargaining agreement was done. But she got that deal finished, which bought her some time. Whether Silver’s involvement in this suspension signals anything about Engelbert’s standing is unclear. But the dynamic is now public in a way it wasn’t before.
The league has not commented on the reported phone call between the two commissioners. Thomas served her suspension and is back on the floor. But the question of who’s really making the calls in the WNBA just got a lot louder.
Leave a Comment