Fever coach Stephanie White denounces online hate after Alyssa Thomas reveals death threats
Fever coach Stephanie White denounces online hate after Alyssa Thomas reveals death threats
Stephanie White said the WNBA is about “inclusiveness” and "elevating marginalized communities.” Andy Lyons / Getty Images
By James BoydJuly 1, 2026 1:57 pm EDT UpdatedIndiana Fever coach Stephanie White denounced “unacceptable” fan behavior Wednesday in response to Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas revealing that she has received hateful online messages, including death threats.
White added that the WNBA is about “inclusiveness” and “elevating marginalized communities.” Thomas was assessed a flagrant foul 2 penalty, fined $1,000 and suspended one game last week for pushing her right fist into Fever star Caitlin Clark’s throat while they were tangled up on the floor.
“As a league, there’s been so much more toxicity, racism, homophobia, straight out nonsense. Hate (and) nonsense,” White told reporters at Wednesday’s practice. “And it is absolutely unacceptable. Most of this (is) coming from the online community. Most of this, in my heart of hearts, I believe is not coming from WNBA fans, Indiana Fever fans. I believe that this is people who are using our league, using our players to further divisive agendas.”
White, who coached Thomas for two seasons with the Connecticut Sun, initially called Thomas’ flagrant foul on Clark “crazy” and “dangerous.” The play was originally a no-call, but the WNBA later upgraded it to a flagrant foul 2 penalty, and suspended Thomas for the first time in her 13-year WNBA career. White said last week that she was disappointed the officials missed the incident in real time, but added that she was pleased the league reviewed it and punished Thomas.
The hate Thomas has received since then, however, has crossed the line, White said Wednesday. Thomas, a six-time All-Star, called out the league for remaining silent “while having people threatening our lives.”
“It’s not even about the suspension. If that’s what they felt was necessary in that moment, then so be it,” Thomas told reporters Tuesday. “… I think the biggest thing is it’s just about our safety. We’re so concerned with the safety on the court, but time and time again we’re having people threatening our lives, leaking addresses out there, putting crazy pictures (online) that have nothing to do with basketball.”
How Did We Get Here?
Alyssa Thomas calls out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after receiving online threats
Thomas said she has not heard from league commissioner Cathy Engelbert despite the ensuing wave of hatred on social media.
On Wednesday, White defended Thomas’ comments, which she said she hadn’t heard until Tuesday night. The coach noted that there’s a difference between fairly criticizing a player’s on-court performance, or even the incident that resulted in Thomas’ suspension, and harassing them online with personal and targeted attacks.
“With fans, and the love/hate relationship that they have with players and teams, that is going to come,” White said. “But it’s not hard to not be a jerk. And if you are one of these people that are online doing this, do not call yourself a WNBA fan.
“Our league is about inclusiveness,” White continued. “Our league is about competition. Our league is about elevating. Elevating women, elevating marginalized communities (and) including, empowering and being inclusive of all different walks of life. That is what our league has always been about.”
White added that “none of us can control social media,” but she, like Thomas, said the WNBA should continue to explore any avenue it can to further protect players from online hate.
Thomas will return from her suspension Thursday when the Mercury host the Seattle Storm. The Fever, meanwhile, will resume their season Sunday at the Las Vegas Aces.
Phoenix will host Indiana on July 9 in the final regular-season matchup between the teams, which could be the first time Thomas and Clark share the court since their incident.
Clark, who has dealt with back issues all season, missed the Fever’s last game after aggravating her back and has not practiced with the team since. Clark is doing individual workouts, according to White, but there is still no definitive timeline of when she could return.
“Every day is a little bit better,” White said of Clark. “And again, I reiterate for those who haven’t had back issues, every day can be something different. You can feel really good in practices or workouts or warmups or whatever, and then you go to bed at night, wake up and it’s different. … The back is a nagging injury that manifests itself in different ways.”
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Tagged To: WNBAIndiana FeverBadenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
