The level of backlash that Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas has gotten since her uncalled fist-to-the-throat incident against Caitlin Clark has been unprecedented. According to Thomas, it even graduated to a point where she received different abuses and threats.

All these are definitely more than enough distractions to pull any player away from their primary focus on the game. But according to Mercury associate head coach Kristi Toliver, Alyssa Thomas has maintained a professional approach through it all.

“I think AT has handled it like a pro,” she said, speaking in an interview which Phoenix Mercury beat reporter Dylan Kane shared on X. “She has a bunch of sisters next to her that gives her support. She’s just gonna keep playing. That’s all she wants to do. It’s play a game that she loves and leave everything else at the front door. And that’s what she’ll continue to do.”

Alyssa Thomas herself, while coming out to address the situation, also maintained the same thing that Toliver pointed out. She maintained that the said foul was not a deliberate action, and acknowledged the backlash and threats that have since come from it. She also clearly stated that all these have no effect on how she approaches the game.

“It doesn’t at all. At the end of the day, it’s basketball,” she said. “Basketball is meant to be physical. Like I said, I didn’t even know that play happened. But again, that doesn’t change anything about how we play basketball. Basketball is a contact sport.”

And that focus appears to trickle down to the entire Phoenix Mercury team as well. They have already won the subsequent games after the one in which that foul happened. With Alyssa Thomas sitting out to serve her suspension, they beat the Toronto Tempo 89-80. 

The following game was against the Seattle Storm. And Kristi Toliver was actually in charge of instead of head coach Nate Tibbetts, who was away with illness. They also won 90-67. And by winning that game, they have now won three of their last four games. Alyssa Thomas was also part of that game, contributing nine points, 13 rebounds, nine assists and two steals.

According to Toliver, the aim now is to move with this momentum and turn the page after the past week’s controversy.

“It is just maintaining focus and understanding what we’re gonna do,” she said. “And that is to play the game that we all love. There’d be so many adverse times and things that happen throughout the course of the season. As long as we stay connected and play for the person to the right and the left of us, that’s the most important thing.”

They face the Chicago Sky in the next game after that. And the expectation is that head coach Nate Tibbetts will be back in charge after recovering from the illness that kept him out.

Kristi Toliver Credits Mercury’s Support System While Stepping in as Acting Coach

Ahead of taking charge of the Seattle Storm game without head coach Nate Tibbetts, Kristi Toliver spoke about her preparation for the responsibility. However, for her, it was not just going to be a solo effort. It was going to be a collaboration. That is, she would lean on the support system within the Mercury’s players and coaches.

“I feel prepared. But I feel safe because I know that I have a bunch of coaches and players that are going to coach and play their hearts out,” she said. “And that’s what it’s all about. We’re kind of the conductors and they’re the musicians and they’re going to go play their tune. It’s just about putting them in positions to be successful. It’s certainly going to be by collaboration, it’s not just going to be myself.”

With the commanding result that came out of the game, it is safe to say that the players and coaches really played their hearts out. But while Toliver was happy with the opportunity, and definitely the result, she also hopes that Coach Tibbetts gets well very soon.

This, in fact, is not the first time she has been in charge in the coach’s absence. During the 2025 WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces, she also had to step up when head coach Nate Tibbetts was ejected. In the preseason they had in Japan ahead of this season, she also had to take on added responsibility.

It is safe to say the Mercury now have a reliable coach they can easily call on whenever the situation demands it.