Former NBA big man Etan Thomas shared his take on the much-discussed WNBA controversy involving Caitlin Clark and Alyssa Thomas.
On Friday on Threads, Thomas posted a clip of a dirty play involving the Phoenix Mercury star and then-Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese in 2024. Thomas, who was then playing for the Connecticut Sun, was ejected from the game following a flagrant 2 foul on Reese.
In the play, Thomas and Reese battled for a rebound under the basket. Thomas wrapped her arm around the rookie, who slammed hard to the court.
“Here is my qst: How many of the people who are outraged over the very flagrant foul on Caitlin Clark were also outraged about the very flagrant fouls on Angel Reese?” Etan Thomas wrote. “How do you explain their indifference vs their anger and fury ?”
Several fans on Threads replied to Etan Thomas’ question. Some criticized Alyssa Thomas for the “dirty play,” while others said the comparison is unwarranted.
“I saw that game,” one fan replied. “Reese deserved that take down. She elbowed AT in the face just before the takedown. I’m not an AT fan, but I seen Reese do some dirty s**t at LSU. She does a lot of ‘accidentally on purpose’ s**t and then walk away asking for a review to hide her work.”
“I’ll answer with a question, how many people who were outraged at this crap on Angel, are now the ones who are ‘standing with AT’ I’ll wait,” another wrote.
“I was outraged at the assault on Angel, in my opinion, AT is a dangerous player,” a fan said. “Her antics are calculated, she doesn’t get overly emotional, just does her thing and smirks, and goes on down the floor.”
Here are other reactions:
“I don’t care who the player is, this is not basketball,” one wrote. “Thomas should of received a fine, suspension (more that 1 game) for this and CC!”
“Its a stupid question, she weren’t punched on the throat,” a fan commented. “And you choose not to see that, which is actually the problem.”
“No, we’re not upset when it’s Angel Reese because Angel Reese is doing this to Kaitlyn as well,” another fan said. “She’s a dirty player as well.”
Etan Thomas played nine NBA seasons from 2001 until 2011. Since his retirement, he has written several books and become outspoken in his political activism.
Analyst says Alyssa Thomas should’ve received harsher disciplinary action
Throughout her 11-year WNBA career, Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas has built a reputation as one of the most physical and aggressive players. Many people believed that Thomas’ incident with Caitlin Clark on Wednesday crossed the line and warranted a more significant fine.
According to USA Today’s Christine Brennan on Thursday, Thomas’ disciplinary action was “way too lenient.” The WNBA assessed Thomas a flagrant 2 foul and a one-game suspension. Under league rules, a flagrant 2 has a $1,000 fine, which Brenna described as “tiny” for a player earning $1.2 million this season.
“Ten games and a fine well into five figures would have sent a significant message,” Brennan wrote. “One game does not.”
Brennan added that the officials during Wednesday’s game should’ve also received fines. Thomas will serve her one-game suspension on Saturday when Phoenix battles the Toronto Tempo.
Edited by Kim Daniel Rubinos