Caitlin Clark finally addressed the backlash Alyssa Thomas has been facing online. Fans have resorted to personal attacks on Thomas since her flagrant foul on Clark on June 24, and despite being on the receiving end, the 24-year-old came to Thomas’s defense. “I’ve stood up here and said before, the harassment, the hate, none of that is OK,” Caitlin Clark told reporters.
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“That goes for the opposing team we play, that goes for my teammates, that goes for my coaches. There should never be question of character… None of that is OK, and I don’t want anybody to ever experience that,” she added. And her defense of the Phoenix Mercury veteran has even caught ESPN’s NFL insider Stephen Holder’s attention.
“I still maintain that Caitlin really needs to do a better job of controlling her emotions during games,” Holder wrote on X. “But the ironic thing is the only level-headed person discussing debates involving Caitlin Clark is… Caitlin Clark.”
I still maintain that Caitlin really needs to do a better job of controlling her emotions during games. But the ironic thing is the only level-headed person discussing debates involving Caitlin Clark is … Caitlin Clark. https://t.co/QfAaH7FYZq
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) July 3, 2026
As she said, this wasn’t the first time she had tried to distance herself from the narratives that often grow around her. Former sports columnist Jason Whitlock called out Clark for yelling at refs as recently as June 2026 after Clark’s 32-point performance against the Chicago Sky. Holder also believes this is where Clark can improve.
CC has never tried to hide her emotions on the court. Whether it’s reacting to a missed call, getting frustrated over a turnover, or arguing her case with officials, fans have caught her slapping her thighs, throwing her hands up, and even bashing the refs in post-game interviews.
However, the 24-year-old has been clear about where she stands. “A lot of people sometimes think I’m a robot. I’m not a robot. I have emotions, I have feelings,” she said.
So with her stance on the controversy being clear now, the most immediate concern is still her health.
Caitlin Clark left the court against the Mercury on June 24 due to a back injury, but she is feeling well enough to play. Despite confirming she’ll sit out the next game against the Las Vegas Raiders, she is “really, really positive about getting back for one of the games in the back-to-back.”
If everything goes according to plan, that return could come against either the Los Angeles Sparks on July 8 or the Phoenix Mercury a day later, where Caitlin Clark and Alyssa Thomas will lock horns once again.