The WNBA says it is looking into allegations of “hateful fan comments” during Indiana Fever’s fiery win over the Chicago Sky on Saturday.
Indiana eased to a 93-58 victory in their season opener against Chicago but the main storyline came when Fever star Caitlin Clark was called for a flagrant-1 foul on her longtime rival Angel Reese, which led to a brief confrontation between the players. The pair’s rivalry started in college and has continued into the WNBA. Clark is white and Reese is Black, and there has been racist and misogynistic abuse online around their relationship.
Sources have told the Indianapolis Star the investigation is based around racist comments directed towards Reese from a member or members of the crowd, although they are not believed to have been directly related to the incident with Clark. On Sunday, the WNBA said it is looking into the matter without going into specifics.
“The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms – they have no place in our league or in society. We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter,” the league said in its statement.
The Indian Fever likewise issued a statement saying they are aware of the allegations and adding that the team are working “closely” with the WNBA in its investigation. “We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players,” the team said.
The WNBA Players’ Association released its own statement on the subject. “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 association wrote.
Both Clark and Reese downplayed the foul after Saturday’s game.
“Let’s not make it something that it’s not,” Clark said. “It was just a good play on the basketball … I’ve watched a lot of basketball in my life, that’s exactly what it was. I wasn’t trying to do anything malicious. That’s not the type of player I am.”
Reese indicated she did not believe Clark was being cynical when she committed the foul, saying it was “a basketball play.”
Last season, a number of players who committed fouls on Clark were subjected to a significant amount of racist, sexist and homophobic comments online from people purporting to defend the guard.
“People should not be using my name to push those agendas. It’s disappointing. It’s not acceptable,” Clark said last June. “... Treating every single woman in this league with the same amount of respect, I think, it’s just a basic human thing that everybody should do.”
