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The WNBA is investigating allegations of hateful comments made from the stands during Saturday’s season opener between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever, the league said in a statement Sunday.
The league released a statement on Sunday, but didn’t specify when in the game the alleged comments occurred or who they were directed toward. According to a source briefed on the situation who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, the investigation was in response to allegations of “racial” comments directed toward the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese by either a fan or fans at Indiana’s Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate and discrimination in all forms — they have no place in our league or in society,” the league said in its statement.
Reese was booed multiple times by fans inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, peaking when she approached the free-throw line for a pair of shots after officials called Caitlin Clark for a flagrant foul on Reese midway through the third quarter of Indiana’s eventual 35-point victory.
The Sky and WNBPA released statements supporting the WNBA’s investigation.
“We will do everything in our power to protect Chicago Sky players, and we encourage the league to continue taking meaningful steps to create a safe environment for all WNBA players,” the Sky statement read.
The WNBPA said “such behavior is unacceptable in our sport.”
“Under the WNBA’s ‘No Space for Hate’ policy, we trust the league to thoroughly investigate and take swift, appropriate action to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all,” the WNBPA statement read.
The Fever are working closely with the WNBA on its investigation, Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Mel Raines said in a statement.
“We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players,” Raines said.
On Thursday, the WNBA announced a season-long platform designed to “combat hate and promote respect across all WNBA spaces — from online discourse to in-arena behavior.” It created a task force of league and team representatives to focus on four areas: enhanced technological features to detect hateful comments online; increased emphasis on team, arena and league security measures; reinforced mental health resources; and alignment of core values against hate.
On Saturday, a public service announcement aired inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with commissioner Cathy Engelbert discussing the league’s “No Space for Hate” policy and platform.
Last season, numerous players said they dealt with a rise in harassment, including increased targeted racist, misogynistic, homophobic and threatening attacks that players said took a toll on their mental health. Around the league, key stakeholders also questioned how the league handled the influx of attention that followed the stardom of Clark and Reese as they transitioned to the pros.
On Saturday, Clark was called for a flagrant 1 for what official Roy Gulbeyan said was a “wind up, impact and follow through for the extension of the left hand to Reese’s back.” Reese and Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston were both assessed offsetting technical fouls following the exchange.
Reese and Clark downplayed the incident after the game.
“Basketball play. Refs got it right. Move on,” Reese said.
Clark said she went for the basketball and that she wasn’t sure why the referees upgraded the common foul to a flagrant.
“I’ve watched a lot of basketball in my life,” she said. “That’s exactly what it was. I wasn’t trying to do anything malicious. That’s not the type of player I am.”
The Sky and Fever will play each other again on June 7 in the second of five meetings this season.
(Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
