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CNN
19-05-2025
- Sport
- CNN
WNBA investigating reports of racial slurs directed towards Angel Reese
The WNBA said it was investigating reports of racial slurs directed towards Angel Reese during the Chicago Sky's loss to the Indiana Fever on Saturday. '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 a statement, per the Associated Press. 'We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.' CNN Sports has contacted the WNBA for comment. It's unclear when the alleged incident happened in Saturday's game but, the Fever released a statement Sunday saying they are 'aware of the allegations of inappropriate fan conduct' during the game. 'We are working closely with the WNBA to complete their investigation,' Mel Raines – CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Fever – said in the statement. 'We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players.' With 4:38 remaining in the third quarter and the Fever up 56-42, Reese claimed an offensive rebound and was driving towards the basket when Indiana star Caitlin Clark made hard contact with her right arm, knocking the Sky forward to the ground and sending the ball rolling away. Reese, clearly upset, got straight back to her feet and tried to confront the 2024 Rookie of the Year, who walked away with her back to Reese while Indiana's Aliyah Boston stepped between the two. Clark's foul was upgraded from a personal to a flagrant 1, while Reese and Boston each received technical fouls. Both players downplayed the incident afterwards and it is unclear whether the alleged racial slurs were related to the confrontation. Chicago Sky President and CEO Adam Fox said the franchise 'welcome(s) the WNBA's investigation of allegations of fan misconduct' during the game. '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,' Fox continued in a statement. The Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) said it was 'aware of reports of hateful comments' and supports the WNBA's investigation. 'Such behavior is unacceptable in our sport,' the players' union said in a statement. '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 Sky and Fever will play four more times in the regular season. Clark finished with a triple-double – 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists – in the season opener while Reese had 12 points and 17 rebounds. The pair faced off four times last year in their WNBA debut seasons, with the Fever winning three of the contests. Clark was named Rookie of the Year with all but one of the 67 votes, with the other vote going to Reese. Both players have played down the rivalry, but after heated clashes at the collegiate level – most notably in the 2023 NCAA women's championship game – the basketball stars have been closely linked. Ahead of the new season, the WNBA unveiled its aforementioned 'No Space for Hate' campaign, aimed at targeting hate and promoting respect in women's basketball, both online and in stadiums. 'We believe that basketball can be a unifying force – a place where people from all walks of life come together not just to watch a game, but to connect,' WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. 'We want our arenas, and our social platforms filled with energy and fandom – not hate and vitriol.' The league said the new venture will introduce technology to recognize hateful language used online, increase security in arenas and for teams, provide more mental health resources for players and an 'alignment of core against hate.' CNN's Jamie Barton contributed to this report.
CNN
19-05-2025
- Sport
- CNN
WNBA investigating reports of racial slurs directed towards Angel Reese
The WNBA said it was investigating reports of racial slurs directed towards Angel Reese during the Chicago Sky's loss to the Indiana Fever on Saturday. '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 a statement, per the Associated Press. 'We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.' CNN Sports has contacted the WNBA for comment. It's unclear when the alleged incident happened in Saturday's game but, the Fever released a statement Sunday saying they are 'aware of the allegations of inappropriate fan conduct' during the game. 'We are working closely with the WNBA to complete their investigation,' Mel Raines – CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Fever – said in the statement. 'We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players.' With 4:38 remaining in the third quarter and the Fever up 56-42, Reese claimed an offensive rebound and was driving towards the basket when Indiana star Caitlin Clark made hard contact with her right arm, knocking the Sky forward to the ground and sending the ball rolling away. Reese, clearly upset, got straight back to her feet and tried to confront the 2024 Rookie of the Year, who walked away with her back to Reese while Indiana's Aliyah Boston stepped between the two. Clark's foul was upgraded from a personal to a flagrant 1, while Reese and Boston each received technical fouls. Both players downplayed the incident afterwards and it is unclear whether the alleged racial slurs were related to the confrontation. Chicago Sky President and CEO Adam Fox said the franchise 'welcome(s) the WNBA's investigation of allegations of fan misconduct' during the game. '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,' Fox continued in a statement. The Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) said it was 'aware of reports of hateful comments' and supports the WNBA's investigation. 'Such behavior is unacceptable in our sport,' the players' union said in a statement. '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 Sky and Fever will play four more times in the regular season. Clark finished with a triple-double – 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists – in the season opener while Reese had 12 points and 17 rebounds. The pair faced off four times last year in their WNBA debut seasons, with the Fever winning three of the contests. Clark was named Rookie of the Year with all but one of the 67 votes, with the other vote going to Reese. Both players have played down the rivalry, but after heated clashes at the collegiate level – most notably in the 2023 NCAA women's championship game – the basketball stars have been closely linked. Ahead of the new season, the WNBA unveiled its aforementioned 'No Space for Hate' campaign, aimed at targeting hate and promoting respect in women's basketball, both online and in stadiums. 'We believe that basketball can be a unifying force – a place where people from all walks of life come together not just to watch a game, but to connect,' WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. 'We want our arenas, and our social platforms filled with energy and fandom – not hate and vitriol.' The league said the new venture will introduce technology to recognize hateful language used online, increase security in arenas and for teams, provide more mental health resources for players and an 'alignment of core against hate.' CNN's Jamie Barton contributed to this report.
CNN
19-05-2025
- Sport
- CNN
WNBA investigating reports of racial slurs directed towards Angel Reese
The WNBA said it was investigating reports of racial slurs directed towards Angel Reese during the Chicago Sky's loss to the Indiana Fever on Saturday. '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 a statement, per the Associated Press. 'We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.' CNN Sports has contacted the WNBA for comment. It's unclear when the alleged incident happened in Saturday's game but, the Fever released a statement Sunday saying they are 'aware of the allegations of inappropriate fan conduct' during the game. 'We are working closely with the WNBA to complete their investigation,' Mel Raines – CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Fever – said in the statement. 'We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players.' With 4:38 remaining in the third quarter and the Fever up 56-42, Reese claimed an offensive rebound and was driving towards the basket when Indiana star Caitlin Clark made hard contact with her right arm, knocking the Sky forward to the ground and sending the ball rolling away. Reese, clearly upset, got straight back to her feet and tried to confront the 2024 Rookie of the Year, who walked away with her back to Reese while Indiana's Aliyah Boston stepped between the two. Clark's foul was upgraded from a personal to a flagrant 1, while Reese and Boston each received technical fouls. Both players downplayed the incident afterwards and it is unclear whether the alleged racial slurs were related to the confrontation. Chicago Sky President and CEO Adam Fox said the franchise 'welcome(s) the WNBA's investigation of allegations of fan misconduct' during the game. '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,' Fox continued in a statement. The Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) said it was 'aware of reports of hateful comments' and supports the WNBA's investigation. 'Such behavior is unacceptable in our sport,' the players' union said in a statement. '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 Sky and Fever will play four more times in the regular season. Clark finished with a triple-double – 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists – in the season opener while Reese had 12 points and 17 rebounds. The pair faced off four times last year in their WNBA debut seasons, with the Fever winning three of the contests. Clark was named Rookie of the Year with all but one of the 67 votes, with the other vote going to Reese. Both players have played down the rivalry, but after heated clashes at the collegiate level – most notably in the 2023 NCAA women's championship game – the basketball stars have been closely linked. Ahead of the new season, the WNBA unveiled its aforementioned 'No Space for Hate' campaign, aimed at targeting hate and promoting respect in women's basketball, both online and in stadiums. 'We believe that basketball can be a unifying force – a place where people from all walks of life come together not just to watch a game, but to connect,' WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. 'We want our arenas, and our social platforms filled with energy and fandom – not hate and vitriol.' The league said the new venture will introduce technology to recognize hateful language used online, increase security in arenas and for teams, provide more mental health resources for players and an 'alignment of core against hate.' CNN's Jamie Barton contributed to this report.
New York Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
WNBA looking into allegations of hateful comments toward Angel Reese: Source
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 statement was in response to allegations of 'racial' comments directed toward the Chicago Sky's Angel Reese by either a fan or fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, said a source briefed on the situation, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Advertisement 'The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate and discrimination in all forms — they have no place in our league or in society,' the league statement said. 'We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.' The WNBPA released a statement saying it was aware of the allegations and supports the league's investigation. 'Such behavior is unacceptable in our sport,' the WNBPA statement said. '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 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. The Sky did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 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 Caitlin Clark and Reese as they transitioned to the pros. Reese was booed multiple times by fans inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, peaking when Reese approached the free-throw line for a pair of shots after officials called Clark for a flagrant foul on Reese midway through the third quarter of Indiana's eventual 35-point victory. Clark was called for the 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. Advertisement 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.
