The Mercury play the final game of their three-game season series against the Sky in Chicago on Aug. 3. The teams have split their previous two games in Phoenix.

Common denominator: Clark

Cloud underscored what many other players have been saying for several years about being targets of racism and death threats online, within and outside of arenas. Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark is the common denominator.

The defending champion Las Vegas Aces’ statement released on July 15 condemned hate speech that the team’s All-Star Chelsea Gray received online on July 13. After the Aces’ 109-75 home loss to Indiana the previous day, Gray posted a screenshot on her Instagram story from a message that included the n-word.

“People act like we just make this (expletive) up,” Gray said in the post.

Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) holds her head during the second quarter against the Indiana Fever at Michelob Ultra Arena on July 12,, in Las Vegas.

Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images

Thomas has repeatedly lambasted hate speech she’s received from fans in multiple instances connected to Clark.

“It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball,” Thomas said June 30 at the Mercury’s practice. “Now, we’re painted as thugs, and there’s death threats out on us. It’s really unacceptable and needs to change in this league. I’m sick and tired of it.”

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