WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert brutally booed after posing with NFL legend Tom Brady amid Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark controversy
An accidental foul on WNBA's Indiana Fever point guard Caitlin Clark invited alleged racial threats on Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas .
So much so that Thomas expressed her concerns to reporters. Thomas pointed out WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert ’s alleged silence on the matter.
Thomas’ loud cry reached the Barclays Center crowd, who had gathered to watch the New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces game on June 30.
The crowd was apparently quiet when the WNBA Commissioner posed courtside with the Las Vegas Aces minority owner and NFL legend Tom Brady .
But when Cathy Engelbert took the center stage for trophy presentation, there was nothing but brutal boos.
What was the backstory to this tormenting welcome of boos amid the award presentation? Let’s find out.
Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark foul reaches Cathy Engelbert and Tom Brady’s universe
The crowd completely drowned the WNBA Commissioner in boos.
The Commissioner did not respond to the boos but gracefully presented Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty with the MVP award.
The New York Liberty won against the Las Vegas Aces [2025 WNBA Finals reigning champions] 93-85 in the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Tournament at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
According to Daily Mail, Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas criticized WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert,
saying she had received racist abuse, threats, and hateful messages from fans after committing a hard foul on Indiana Fever point guard Caitlin Clark during a game.
Thomas accidentally landed on Clark when both of them were scrambling for a loose ball. Clark stayed in the game for a while but left after experiencing an aggravated back injury. No foul was called during the play, but Thomas was suspended following public backlash .
After returning from a one-game suspension, Thomas spoke about the public backlash.
“Our families are being threatened,” Thomas, who is Black, told reporters. “Kids are being threatened. People are sending racial slurs and all types of stuff.
There’s a difference between trolling, and there’s a difference between hatred.
The hatred that we’re experiencing over a play that was, honestly, a complete accident, no one even knew what happened, it’s just unfortunate.”
“The league has to do better in this instance,” Thomas said. “Honestly, I didn’t even know I was being suspended until 10 minutes before it was being put on social media.
We still have yet to hear anything from [WNBA commissioner] Cathy [Engelbert]. It’s no surprise. You can see what’s being said on social media.
It’s unfortunate, but as usual, she remains silent. That’s unfortunate when our lives are being threatened.”
“Just the whole narrative that’s being painted out there,” Thomas said. “It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball.
A lot of us, myself included, didn’t even know the play took place until after the game. And now we’re being painted as thugs.
And [there are] death threats out on us, so it’s really unacceptable. It’s something that needs to change in this league, and I’m just really sick and tired of it.”
So much so that Thomas expressed her concerns to reporters. Thomas pointed out WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert ’s alleged silence on the matter.
Thomas’ loud cry reached the Barclays Center crowd, who had gathered to watch the New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces game on June 30.
The crowd was apparently quiet when the WNBA Commissioner posed courtside with the Las Vegas Aces minority owner and NFL legend Tom Brady .
But when Cathy Engelbert took the center stage for trophy presentation, there was nothing but brutal boos.
What was the backstory to this tormenting welcome of boos amid the award presentation? Let’s find out.
Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark foul reaches Cathy Engelbert and Tom Brady’s universe
The crowd completely drowned the WNBA Commissioner in boos.
The Commissioner did not respond to the boos but gracefully presented Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty with the MVP award.
The New York Liberty won against the Las Vegas Aces [2025 WNBA Finals reigning champions] 93-85 in the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Tournament at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
According to Daily Mail, Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas criticized WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert,
saying she had received racist abuse, threats, and hateful messages from fans after committing a hard foul on Indiana Fever point guard Caitlin Clark during a game.
Thomas accidentally landed on Clark when both of them were scrambling for a loose ball. Clark stayed in the game for a while but left after experiencing an aggravated back injury. No foul was called during the play, but Thomas was suspended following public backlash .
After returning from a one-game suspension, Thomas spoke about the public backlash.
“Our families are being threatened,” Thomas, who is Black, told reporters. “Kids are being threatened. People are sending racial slurs and all types of stuff.
There’s a difference between trolling, and there’s a difference between hatred.
The hatred that we’re experiencing over a play that was, honestly, a complete accident, no one even knew what happened, it’s just unfortunate.”
“The league has to do better in this instance,” Thomas said. “Honestly, I didn’t even know I was being suspended until 10 minutes before it was being put on social media.
We still have yet to hear anything from [WNBA commissioner] Cathy [Engelbert]. It’s no surprise. You can see what’s being said on social media.
It’s unfortunate, but as usual, she remains silent. That’s unfortunate when our lives are being threatened.”
“Just the whole narrative that’s being painted out there,” Thomas said. “It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball.
A lot of us, myself included, didn’t even know the play took place until after the game. And now we’re being painted as thugs.
And [there are] death threats out on us, so it’s really unacceptable. It’s something that needs to change in this league, and I’m just really sick and tired of it.”
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