Alyssa Thomas. Image via: Andy Lyons/ Getty ImagesAlyssa Thomas said Tuesday that she and her family have received death threats and been targeted with racial slurs in the week since her one-game suspension for making contact with her fist to Caitlin Clark's throat. The Phoenix Mercury forward spoke to reporters for the first time since serving that suspension, and she used the opportunity to call out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert directly for what she described as silence in the face of escalating threats against her and her teammates.The comments came five days after the WNBA reviewed the June 24 game and reclassified an uncalled play as a Flagrant 2 foul, a decision that triggered a fine and one missed game for the six-time All-Star.Alyssa Thomas shares horrifying details of threats and abuse after Caitlin Clark foul incidentAlyssa Thomas described the backlash as something well beyond the usual criticism that comes with playing in the WNBA. She said the threats extended to her family and to children connected to the team, a level of hostility she said she hadn't experienced even during a heated 2024 playoff series between her former team, the Connecticut Sun, and Clark's Fever."Our families are being threatened. Kids are being threatened. People are sending racial slurs and all types of stuff," Thomas said. "There's a difference between trolling and there's a difference between hatred. The hatred that we're experiencing over a play that, honestly, was a complete accident, no one even knew it happened. It's just unfortunate. The league has to do better in this instance."She also described what she said was a broader pattern of players' addresses being shared online. "We're so concerned about the safety on the court, but time and time again, we're having people threaten our lives. Leaking addresses out there. Putting crazy pictures that have nothing to do with basketball," Thomas said.The play itself unfolded with 6:52 left in the second quarter, during a scramble for a loose ball that also involved Fever guard Lexi Held and Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner. Thomas ended up on top of Clark, made contact with her fist near Clark's throat, and then stepped over her as the ball went the other way. No foul was called in real time. Fever coach Stephanie White called it "absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful" after the game and said officials told her they simply didn't see it happen. Clark left that same game with a back injury and has continued to manage it since.What does the WNBA say about Alyssa Thomas' comments?Engelbert issued a statement Tuesday night after Thomas' comments circulated. "The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate," Engelbert said."The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league's top priority. We are aware of Alyssa Thomas' comments, and what she and her teammates have experienced is completely unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community. The league and our security team have been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organization and remain committed to protecting all players."That response sits alongside a detail that complicates the public back and forth. Multiple outlets, including The Associated Press and CBS Sports, reported that Engelbert and Thomas actually exchanged text messages last week about the security concerns, according to a person familiar with the discussions, and that Engelbert directed league security to contact Phoenix security as soon as she learned about the threats. Thomas did not mention any direct contact with Engelbert when she spoke to reporters, saying only that the commissioner had remained silent.What does Alyssa Thomas say about the suspension?Thomas further revealed that the suspension itself wasn't her primary complaint. "It's not even about the suspension," she said. "If that's what they felt was necessary in that moment, then so be it. But I think there's a lot of other plays that you can say the same about. The biggest thing is about our safety."She said she found out about the suspension only minutes before it became public. "Honestly, I didn't even know I was being suspended until 10 minutes before it was put on social media," Thomas said. "We still have yet to hear anything from Cathy. It's no surprise. You can see what's being said on social media, and yeah, it's unfortunate, but as usual, she remains silent, and that's unfortunate when our lives are being threatened."The Mercury sit at 7-13 this season, and the rematch with Indiana on July 9 in Phoenix now carries weight far beyond the standings.