One moment, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was hobnobbing with NFL legend Tom Brady. The next, she was being serenaded with a chorus of boos from angry fans amid the latest Caitlin Clark controversy.Engelbert was on hand in Brooklyn for Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Cup final between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces, who count Brady as a minority team owner.But while she did appear to have a pleasant courtside photo-op with Brady, things were far less pleasant when the spotlight shifted to Engelbert following the Liberty’s victory. When it came time to present the Liberty with their trophy, the crowd at Barclays Center let loose.’The boos were so loud in the arena we couldn’t hear Cathy at all in person,’ one Liberty fan wrote on X, adding: ‘lol.’Engelbert made no acknowledgement of the booing and instead focused on presenting Breanna Stewart with her MVP trophy before quickly handing the mic off and retreating from center court.Earlier in the day, Engelbert was criticized by Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, who claimed she has received racist fan abuse and even threats following a hard foul on Clark during a game against the Indiana Fever. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert poses with Aces minority owner Tom Brady on Tuesday Thomas’ balled hand is seen coming down on Clark’s throat during Wednesday’s game The controversy ignited during Phoenix’s win on Wednesday in Indianapolis, where Clark found herself on the bottom of a pileup during a scramble for a loose ball. Thomas’s balled right hand came down on Clark, who winced in pain. The Fever star initially remained in the game until leaving later after aggravating a back injury.Although Thomas wasn’t whistled for a foul at the time, much to the displeasure of Fever fans, she was later suspended amid widespread uproar over the incident. After missing Saturday’s game in Toronto, the veteran Thomas was back at practice, where she claimed she’s become the target of racial abuse over an honest mistake.’Our families are being threatened,’ Thomas, who is Black, told reporters Tuesday. ‘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,’ she continued. ‘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.’She also directed frustration at the WNBA and its commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, whom she criticized for being silent on the issue.’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 Cathy.’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,’ she continued. ‘It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball. Lexi Hull #10, Caitlin Clark #22 and Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever after the game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday in Indianapolis Join the discussionIs the WNBA handling Caitlin Clark’s situation fairly, or fueling deeper divisions among fans?What’s your view?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.’As reported by ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Engelbert and Thomas did exchange text messages last week. The Commissioner is said to have directed league security to get in touch with Phoenix security over the threats to Thomas.Engelbert also released her own statement on Tuesday as the New York Liberty were winning the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup tournament in Brooklyn.’The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate,’ Engelbert said. ‘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.’Since Wednesday’s controversial foul, Clark’s Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham has accused the Mercury players of being disliked throughout the league, and even within their own organization.’You know what’s funny, though? I know people in [the Mercury’s] organization that [say], like, nobody likes their team this year,’ Cunningham said on her podcast. ‘They say that they’re the unfriendliest group. So, we’re not the only ones who feel that way. Internal people feel that way, too.’ Thomas has returned from her one-game suspension, and is now taking aim at the WNBAMeanwhile, many fans felt Clark was on the receiving end of a cheap shot. Social media was in uproar over the incident, particularly among conservatives, who believe Clark is facing racist discrimination for being white.’This is our George Floyd,’ podcaster and fired BuzzFeed reporter Benny Johnson wrote on X, referring to the African-American man whose 2020 murder by Minneapolis police sparked nationwide protests.One of Johnson’s followers responded: ‘Charge that girl with assault, attempted murder and hate crime.’Conservative blogger David Burke shared an AI-doctored clip of the foul, which exaggerated the violence and distorted Thomas’ appearance. He also linked the incident to the fatal neck compression Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin performed by kneeling on Floyd’s throat.’I seem to recall 1000’s of hours of media focus about the pressure applied to George Floyd’s neck and how vulnerable the human neck is to injury,’ Burke wrote.Others linked the foul to Thomas’ fiancée and teammate, DeWanna Bonner.’Alyssa Thomas and her lesbian lover DeWanna Bonner hate Clark,’ Outkick.com’s Jon Root wrote on X.Many others followed similar attacks.’They hate her because she’s white and straight,’ one X user wrote of Clark.