The appointment of Enzo Maresca as the new manager of Manchester City marks the beginning of a new era at the club. Following the departure of Pep Guardiola after a historic decade in charge, Maresca faces one of the biggest challenges in modern football.
After spending three years away from the Etihad Stadium, the Italian coach has returned on a three-year contract, tasked with maintaining the success and identity that Guardiola established during his remarkable reign.
Continuing the Guardiola Philosophy
Enzo Maresca on the City Bench as Pep Guardiola’s Assistant
One of the main reasons Manchester City selected Maresca is his deep understanding of Guardiola’s football philosophy. During City’s Treble-winning 2022-23 season, Maresca worked closely with Guardiola as his assistant and played an important role in tactical planning.
Advertisement
The 46-year-old has already made it clear that he does not intend to completely change the club’s identity.
“Probably the reason why I am here is because the club wants to maintain the same style of football and the same idea,” Maresca said after his appointment.
Fans can therefore expect City to continue playing possession-based football, dominating games through ball control, intelligent movement and tactical flexibility.
Tactical Innovation and Flexibility
Although Maresca has been heavily influenced by Guardiola, he is not simply a copy of his former mentor.
Advertisement
Those who worked with him during his previous spell at Manchester City describe him as a coach who is willing to experiment and develop new tactical ideas. During the Treble-winning campaign, Maresca was reportedly instrumental in the tactical adjustment that saw defender John Stones move into midfield, a strategy that proved crucial to City’s success.
His experiences under legendary managers such as Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi have also shaped his coaching philosophy, blending Italian tactical discipline with Spanish technical football.
Supporters should therefore expect a Manchester City side that remains familiar in style but with subtle tactical changes and innovations.
Strong Relationship with the Club’s Leadership
Maresca’s appointment was not a surprise within Manchester City’s hierarchy. Club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has publicly praised the Italian’s football philosophy and leadership qualities.
Advertisement
It is understood that outgoing sporting director Txiki Begiristain recommended Maresca as Guardiola’s long-term successor, while the former manager himself remained closely involved in discussions regarding the appointment.
This strong backing from the club’s leadership could prove vital as Maresca attempts to follow one of the greatest managers in football history.
Managing the Pressure of Following Guardiola
Perhaps Maresca’s biggest challenge will be managing expectations.
Guardiola won 20 major trophies during his decade at Manchester City, transforming the club into one of the most dominant teams in world football. Replacing such a successful manager inevitably brings enormous pressure.
Advertisement
However, Maresca appears to welcome that challenge.
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak believes that while many coaches would have been intimidated by the opportunity, Maresca sees it differently.
“He wants that challenge, he loves that challenge,” Khaldoon said.
Developing Young Players
Maresca’s previous spell as head coach of Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad demonstrated his ability to work with young players.
Former colleague Gareth Taylor praised Maresca’s willingness to think differently and evolve tactically, qualities that could benefit City’s next generation of academy graduates.
Advertisement
This could mean increased opportunities for talented young players to break into the first team while maintaining the club’s competitive standards.
A New Era Begins
While comparisons with Guardiola will be unavoidable, Manchester City’s decision-makers clearly believe that Maresca is the right person to lead the club into its next chapter.
His understanding of the club’s culture, his tactical knowledge, and his close relationship with Guardiola’s football philosophy make him a natural successor.
The challenge ahead is enormous, but if Maresca successfully combines continuity with innovation, Manchester City supporters could witness another successful era at the Etihad Stadium under their new Italian manager.
Manager John Schneider announced after Tuesday’s 3-0 loss that Fisher will serve as an opener for the Blue Jays during Wednesday’s Canada Day showdown against the New York Mets (3 p.m. ET / noon PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+).
Patrick Corbin was originally scheduled to start the game, but the veteran left-hander was moved to the bullpen earlier Tuesday.
Rookie right-hander Spencer Miles is expected to handle the bulk of the duties for the Blue Jays as they go for a series win against the Mets.
It will be the fifth time this season that Fisher has started a game for Toronto. He previously worked as the club’s opener on April 17 against Arizona, May 21 against the Yankees, May 26 against Miami and June 17 against Boston. He didn’t allow a run in any of those three appearances.
Advertisement
For the year, Fisher has a 3.48 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 44 innings.
A former World Heavyweight Champion returned to WWE tonight. He appeared on the latest episode of NXT.
Booker T was away from the NXT commentary desk for two weeks. He also missed the black-and-silver brand’s latest premium live event, The Great American Bash. RAW commentator Corey Graves and SmackDown’s Wade Barrett filled in for the Hall of Famer during his absence.
Thanks for the submission!
Advertisement
Before this week’s episode of NXT, the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion appeared on his Hall of Fame podcast. During the conversation, Booker revealed that he was forced to take a break from the Triple H-led sports entertainment juggernaut due to family issues. The 61-year-old disclosed that he was healthy and would return to the Tuesday night show this week.
Advertisement
“I’m the youngest of eight. When something happens in the family, family comes first. Everything stops. I always said, being the youngest in the family, it’s my responsibility to make sure I step up and be there at all time [sic]. For me, I’ve been dealing with family stuff, and I had to take a step back and deal with it. I can’t deal with things and work at the same time. That’s all it’s been. I feel good; I’m perfectly fine; my health is great. I’m getting back to work on Tuesday.” [H/T: Fightful]
The latest episode of the black-and-silver show kicked off with a segment featuring new NXT Women’s Champion Kendal Grey. During Grey’s entrance, the camera briefly focused on the commentary desk. Vic Joseph welcomed Booker T back to WWE during that moment. The Hall of Famer was in good spirits and seemed delighted about resuming his commentary duties.
Booker T has been part of the NXT commentary team for nearly four years as of this writing. He joined WWE’s third brand as a color commentator in October 2022. After a stellar in-ring career, Booker has gained popularity among modern-day fans with his hilarious commentary lines and catchphrases.
The WCW legend has helped many up-and-coming stars, such as Bron Breakker, Trick Williams, and Stephanie Vaquer, get over with the WWE Universe. Booker’s recent absence from NXT raised concern about his status among fans. However, he finally returned to the Tuesday night show this week.
Advertisement
Why did you not like this content?
Was this article helpful?
Advertisement
Thank You for feedback
Get all the hottest wrestling news FIRST by clicking here
Serena Williams of the United States, left, and Maya Joint of Australia shake hands at the end of their first round women’s singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
LONDON — When Serena Williams accepted an offer to play singles at Wimbledon, Maya Joint got to thinking.
The 20-year-old Joint had said there was “always a part of me that wanted to experience playing against her.”
Article continues after this advertisement
Advertisement
After getting what she wished for — a first-round meeting with the tennis icon — Joint delivered on the biggest stage.
The Michigan-born Australian showed few nerves in winning the biggest match of her life — defeating Williams 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 on Tuesday to spoil the 44-year-old Williams’ singles comeback at the All England Club.
“I didn’t get much sleep last night. I was up until like 2 a.m. just thinking about it,” Joint said in her on-court interview.
Advertisement
Article continues after this advertisement
The 87th-ranked Joint certainly looked calm on the outside but said she had serious butterflies walking onto Centre Court alongside the GOAT of women’s tennis.
During warmups, she felt like her legs “weren’t moving.”
“I really don’t know how I got a pretty good start in the match,” Joint said. “She has such an aura, she’s just a legend and this court has so many huge names that have played on it. I’ve been dreaming about this moment since I was a little kid, so this is pretty crazy.”
Joint notched her first Wimbledon singles win and just her third Grand Slam singles victory. By the time Joint was born in 2006, Williams had already won seven major titles, completing a career Grand Slam in the process. Williams has won 23 major singles titles — seven at Wimbledon.
“Just the start was very nerve-racking and then trying to finish out the match, as well. She definitely lifted her level and she played some really great tennis there,” Joint said.
Joint had chances to end it earlier.
Advertisement
At 5-5 in the second set, Joint squandered four break point opportunities as Williams held serve. Joint then won the next game to love, including back-to-back aces to force a tiebreaker.
Joint had her first match point at 6-5 in the tiebreaker but Williams hit a winner and then won the next two points.
Joint got the key break to go up 4-2 in the deciding set. She sealed the win on her third match point.
“I think I tensed up a little bit when I got close to winning, but I think I played my best tennis when I needed to, which was good,” she said.
Advertisement
Slowed by a back injury earlier this year, Joint at one point lost 10 consecutive matches.
“Even though I didn’t win many matches this year, I still felt like I could win,” Joint said. “I had the belief and I just took advantage of the moment and enjoyed it, didn’t really think about the previous matches I’ve played.”
She later added: “If you’re playing Serena, you have nothing to lose. It makes sense that people play their best game against her.”
Last year, Joint won the grass-court Eastbourne tournament ahead of her debut at Wimbledon, where she lost in the first round to Liudmila Samsonova. Joint’s only two other victories in majors came at the U.S. Open.
Advertisement
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
Joint, who represents Australia through her father, joins a list of unheralded players to have eliminated Williams in Wimbledon’s first round.
Advertisement
Harmony Tan was ranked 115th when she beat Williams in 2022. A year prior, it was Aliaksandra Sasnovich, ranked No. 100 at the time, who emerged victorious when Williams retired from the match with a leg injury.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy tells Jesse Watters that the World Cup has brought a contagious fever of appreciation for America. He highlights how visitors from various countries are enjoying their time, boosting tourism, and creating positive social media content about the U.S. Portnoy notes that seeing foreigners enjoy the country is a refreshing reminder of America’s appeal.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Advertisement
The United States men’s national soccer team (USMNT) did its job to begin this 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil, winning Group D and moving on to the knockout stages.
Now, the real run they’ve been looking forward to for the past four years begins on Wednesday night in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The USMNT will be pitted against Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the great stories of this World Cup, in the round of 32 to determine who is moving on in the tournament, and who will be heading home.
Folarin Balogun #20 of United States celebrates with teammates after scoring during the second half of the international friendly match between United States and Senegal at Bank of America Stadium on May 31, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina.(Cory Knowlton/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
For the “visitors” in this case, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s journey not only knocked off Italy, an iconic country in terms of soccer, to get into this World Cup, but they’ve done enough to become a third-place team that moves on in this inaugural expanded format.
Their 3-1 win over Qatar on June 24 gave them the necessary three points needed to move on after drawing against Canada, a fellow host country alongside the U.S. and Mexico, which earned them one point. They fell to Switzerland, 4-1, as the winners of Group B moved on in their own right.
But Bosnia and Herzegovina knew what they needed to do against Qatar, and now they carry momentum into a matchup against a Team USA squad that was hoping for a bit more themselves when they faced Türkiye in their final Group D matchup last week.
Advertisement
Of course, the game meant nothing, but Türkiye’s late goal in stoppage time gave them a 3-2 victory that soured what appeared to be a 2-2 draw in Los Angeles. Granted, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino wasn’t taking any chances, leaving many on his usual starting XI on the bench, though Christian Pulisic made his return in the second half after missing time due to a calf injury.
United States fans cheer after a goal against Turkiye in the second half of a FIFA World Cup 2026 match at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 25, 2026.(Keith Birmingham/Pasadena Star-News)
However, that’s looking at it from the pessimist’s point of view. The patriotic optimist viewed that game as nothing because the USMNT already punched their ticket to the knockout stages with a 4-2 win over Paraguay, which just upset Germany on Monday afternoon in Boston with a penalty-shootout victory to move on to the round of 16, and a 2-0 win over Australia to win Group D.
Now, with many starters well rested and the home crowd still on their side out in the Bay Area, the U.S. are strong favorites to get the job done against Bosnia and Herzegovina to cement their own spot in the round of 16.
Here’s how to watch the game, including start time, TV information and streaming options.
How to watch United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Christian Pulisic of the United States celebrates after an own goal by Damian Bobadilla of Paraguay during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026.(Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
When: Wednesday, July 1 at 8 p.m. ET Where: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Jeremy Lauzon is signing a six-year, $24 million extension with the Golden Knights, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Tuesday.
The Golden Knights acquired Lauzon from the Nashville Predators last off-season.
In his first season with Vegas, he had a goal and 12 assists while being a minus-three in 68 games played. He also appeared in 12 playoff games as the Golden Knights fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup final.
Advertisement
Lauzon missed Round 2 and the Western Conference final with an upper-body injury.
The 29-year-old has 15 goals and 43 assists for 58 points in 384 career regular-season games between the Bruins, Kraken, Predators and Golden Knights.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson waits for the snap during fourth-quarter action against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 10, 2024, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, giving Minnesota its top playmaker on the field as the offense worked through a late-game sequence in a road matchup against an AFC opponent. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images.
Remember how the Minnesota Vikings shipped Randy Moss out via trade after seven seasons about 20 years ago? One website claims that could happen again, but with Justin Jefferson. In the spirit of recent Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Garrett trades, two heavyweights leaving their existing franchises, CBS Sports nominated top-notch NFLers who could follow suit.
And per Garrett Podell, that’s Jefferson, among others.
Vikings’ Playoff Pressure Makes the Rumor Worth Tracking
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson gestures to fans while walking off the Lambeau Field turf after facing the Green Bay Packers on Sep. 29, 2024, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Jefferson’s postgame moment captured a familiar NFC North scene, with Minnesota’s star receiver acknowledging the road crowd after another rivalry chapter. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.
Podell: Jefferson Could Be Next to Demand Trade
On a list that included Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, among others, Jefferson got the nod as a player who could request a trade.
Advertisement
Podell wrote, “Prediction on whether or not Jefferson will eventually ask for a trade: Yes, by the 2028 NFL offseason. The McCarthy-Murray competition will fail to bear long-term fruit at football’s most important position, leaving Jefferson dissatisfied entering the final season of his four-year, $140 million deal in 2028.”
“Out of guaranteed money, Jefferson will be looking for a new, multiyear deal at the age of 29, but he’ll aim to get his next batch of guaranteed cash elsewhere. Compensation to get the deal done: First-round pick and third-round pick. It’s a similar package to the one the Patriots used to acquire Brown from the Eagles, but instead of a fifth-round pick, Minnesota gets a third-round draft choice since Jefferson doesn’t come with the same attitude and fluidity questions.”
Jefferson has never wavered about his commitment to the Vikings, but a playoff-less season in 2026 might change his mind.
Advertisement
“Likely landing spot: Las Vegas Raiders. It’s hard to project how the NFL landscape will look years down the road, but the Raiders make plenty of sense for a multitude of reasons,” Podell added.
“Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, will need a true WR1 to complement All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers, and Las Vegas has shown a willingness to trade for a superstar wide receiver at the back of the end their 20s: The Raiders traded a first-round draft choice and a second-round draft choice to the Green Bay Packers in 2022 in exchange for a 29-year-old Davante Adams.”
If Vikings Don’t Make Playoffs or Win Playoff Game — Yep.
Trading Jefferson now would be premature. The real challenge lies nine months ahead. Should the Vikings miss the playoffs again in 2026, the situation in Minnesota will become uncomfortable for all involved. While Jefferson is currently expressing loyalty, as most star players do, that patience typically wanes if the team gives them a reason to reconsider.
Advertisement
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson reacts after a first-quarter play against the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 5, 2025, in Tottenham, United Kingdom. The international-stage snapshot showed Jefferson working through another Vikings drive overseas, with Minnesota’s offense chasing rhythm in front of a London crowd during a rare regular-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
That is where the Damian Lillard comparison in the NBA becomes relevant. Portland recognized the impending issue for years. Lillard remained loyal, often carrying mediocre teams, until he reached a point where continued loyalty no longer made sense. Such decisions are not sudden. But they do build and intensify.
For the Vikings, the crux of the issue is their quarterback situation. Jefferson’s Minnesota requires one of its quarterbacks, Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy, to elevate the offense to a competitive level.
McCarthy previously had an opportunity, but his efficiency metrics were poor, compounded by injuries. That paved the way for Murray. If Murray underperforms, discussions about Jefferson’s future will intensify rapidly.
The Would-Be Trade Haul for Jefferson
If Jefferson posts Jeffersonian numbers in 2026 while Minnesota misses the postseason or gets blown out in the first round, the playmaker will almost certainly fetch a 1st-Rounder via trade — if it comes to that.
Advertisement
The Philadelphia Eagles were able to squeeze a 1st-Rounder and 5th-Rounder out of the New England Patriots this offseason for Brown. There’s no reason to believe Jefferson would be less. In fact, Minnesota might charge extra juice because Jefferson is a better football player than Brown.
The safest price from a summer of 2026 outlook is Jefferson would probably be a 1st- and 3rd-Rounder. Twenty-one years ago, the aforementioned Moss fetched a 1st-Rounder (Troy Williamson), a player (Napoleon Harris), and a 7th-Rounder.
All Up to O’Connell
Whether Jefferson is traded anytime soon rests squarely on Kevin O’Connell’s shoulders. The Podell theory will not come to fruition if the Vikings make an impressive playoff run this season. All Jefferson wants is to win, which likely translates to the first postseason triumph of his career. It’s a reasonable ask. The last time Minnesota won a playoff game? Six years ago — the 2019 stunner down in New Orleans when Minnesota walked off the Saints courtesy of Kirk Cousins and Kyle Rudolph. The Vikings drafted Jefferson three months after that moment.
Advertisement
The Athletic senior NFL insider Dianna Russini interviews Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell during training camp in Eagan, Minnesota, on Aug. 15, 2025. Their conversation covered O’Connell’s Coach of the Year season and Minnesota’s roster outlook, with the franchise’s quarterback plan driving much of the broader Vikings discussion that summer in Eagan. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
O’Connell must get Jefferson a playoff win to keep him satisfied.
Otherwise, Jefferson could ask for a trade in the 2027 offseason, and no one would fault him for it. It’s why signing Murray in free agency was so crucial — to prove to Jefferson that the franchise is not content with 9-8 seasons that don’t net playoff berths. They mean business.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
“We will always be grateful for his eight years with the Lakers – including the title he led us to in 2020, under the most difficult circumstances imaginable, and the countless records he broke in purple and gold.
“We wish him the best in his future, both on and off the court. He will always be a cherished member of the Lakers family.”
James responded on social media, writing, “No, THANK YOU!”
Advertisement
He said it was “truly a honor” to wear the purple and gold while trying to continue “the greatness & legacies that came before me!”
“Hope I made a few proud during my stint,” he added.
James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds this season with the Lakers. The 22-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion is the all-time leader in games (1,622) and points (43,440).
He was selected with the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, where he spent seven seasons before announcing during a live TV special titled ‘The Decision’ that he was leaving for the Miami Heat.
Advertisement
James then returned to Cleveland and in 2016 rallied the team from a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals to stun Golden State and make good on his promise to deliver the Cavaliers their first championship.
He helped the Lakers win the NBA title in 2020, nine months after legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash.
Ecuador’s football federation has lodged a complaint with World Cup organisers after local fans gathered outside the team’s hotel ahead of their last-32 match against co-hosts Mexico, saying the incident violated fair play principles. According to local media, around 1,000 Mexican supporters staged a late-night “serenade” outside Ecuador’s hotel in Mexico City on Monday, using noisemakers, pots, and buckets while singing the Mexican folk song “Cielito Lindo.” Police later intervened and dispersed the crowd.
While it was a largely dominant performance, ‘Boots’ did encounter the odd moment of bother, particularly when he seemed troubled by a third-round right hand.
Advertisement
To his credit, though, the flashy stylist was able to recover and eventually halted his man with a third knockdown.
If he were to face Fundora or Ortiz, however, then Crawford is not so sure ‘Boots’ would be let off the hook the way he was against Zayas.
Sharing his thoughts on The PorterWay Podcast, the former three-division undisputed champion was quick to contextualise the American’s triumph over Zayas.
Advertisement
“I don’t think no one picked Xander to win. I love Xander, and he’s a great kid, but I think we’re overhyping [Ennis’] victory.
“I think it’s going to be different when he comes up against a Fundora or a Vergil because, if one of those guys gets him hurt like Xander did, I don’t think it’s going to be the same outcome.”
Indeed, it must be said that Fundora and Ortiz are bigger punchers than Zayas, who is known more for his footwork and ring IQ.
In that same breath, though, it is fair to add the caveat that neither the WBC champion nor Ortiz has proven their power against a fighter like Ennis.
Crawford has previously backed Fundora to beat ‘Boots’, though that was before his performance against Zayas.
On Tuesday, Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas spoke to reporters for the first time since being suspended for one game after making contact with Caitlin Clark’s throat in a game against the Indiana Fever last Wednesday. The six-time All-Star did not hold back, especially when addressing the harassment and death threats she and her teammates have faced in the wake of the incident, which spawned a nearly week-long uproar on social media and beyond over how the WNBA treats Clark.
“Crazy, you know, the play in the game, being suspended, just the whole narrative that’s being painted out there, it’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball,” Thomas said, when asked about her experience over the past week. “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’s death threats out on us. So it’s really unacceptable. It is something that needs to change in this league, and I’m just really sick and tired of it.”
Thomas was particularly pointed about her criticism of WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
“Honestly, I didn’t even know I was being suspended until 10 minutes before it was put on social media. We still have yet to hear anything from Cathy,” Thomas said. “It’s no surprise; you can see what’s being said on social media, and yeah, I mean it’s unfortunate, but as usual, she remains silent, and that’s unfortunate when our lives are being threatened.”
Advertisement
“The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement on Tuesday issued after Thomas’s comments were reported. “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.”
Engelbert exchanged text messages with Thomas last week and instructed WNBA security to get in touch with Mercury security after the incident, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
The incident occurred in the first half of the Mercury’s 111-109 win at Gainbridge Field House on June 24. It was the second time in 48 hours the two teams faced off in Indianapolis, and after the first testy affair won by the Fever, it wasn’t a surprise that the second meeting was extremely physical and, at times, heated. There were multiple controversial non-calls on players defending Clark, who left the game due to a back injury in the second half. But the play that got the most attention on social media happened during a loose-ball scramble in the second quarter, when Clark got caught on the bottom of the pile and Thomas put her fist on Clark’s throat as she went to get up.
There was no foul called on the play, and it didn’t get much attention on the court. But when slow-motion and freeze-frame footage of the play went viral online, it created a firestorm of outrage. The day after the game, the WNBA retroactively issued Thomas a Flagrant 2 and one-game suspension.
Advertisement
Thomas said that her contact with Clark’s throat was an “accident” and that she didn’t even realize she had done it during the game. Still, she did not argue about the suspension itself, saying, “If that’s what they felt was necessary in that moment, then so be it.”
Her biggest concern was the league’s failure to stand up for players or protect them in the face of a torrent of abuse, some of which involved threatening players’ children and racist slurs.
“I think the biggest thing is it’s just about our safety. We’re so concerned about the safety on the floor, but time and time again we’re having people threatening our lives, leaking addresses out there, putting crazy pictures that have nothing to do with basketball,” Thomas said.
She said the abuse she has experienced over the past week has been far worse than anything she’s experienced in her WNBA career, including in 2024 when Thomas’ Connecticut Sun played Clark and the Fever in the playoffs.
Advertisement
“You know, our families are being threatened, 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 and the hatred that we’re experiencing over a play that honestly was a complete accident, nobody even knew it happened,” she said. “It’s just unfortunate, but the league has to do better in this instance.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login