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National Post
27-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
WNBA says it cannot substantiate claims that racist remarks were made by fans at Sky-Fever game
NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA says it cannot substantiate claims that racist fan behavior took place during a game in Indianapolis between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever earlier this month. Article content Article content The league said its investigation included gathering information from fans, team and arena staff, as well as an 'audio and video review of the game.' The league said, 'we have not substantiated it.' Article content The WNBA, according to a person familiar with the investigation, was probing claims that racist comments were directed toward Chicago's Angel Reese by fans during the loss to WNBA rookie of the year Caitlin Clark and the Fever. Article content Reese, who is Black, and Clark, who is white, were meeting for the seventh time in their ongoing — and much-talked-about _ rivalry. Clark later said she did not hear any racist remarks during that game, but acknowledged that it was loud in Indiana's arena throughout the game. Article content 'It's super loud in here, and though I didn't hear anything, I think that's why they're doing the investigation,' Clark said earlier this month. 'That's why they're looking into it. That doesn't mean nothing happened, so I'll just trust the league's investigation, and I'm sure they'll do the right thing.' Article content Both teams had issued statements supporting the investigation, as did the WNBA Players Union. Article content 'We appreciate the swift and thorough process undertaken by the WNBA to investigate these allegations, which were not substantiated,' Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Mel Raines said Tuesday in a statement distributed by the Fever. 'At Gainbridge Fieldhouse, we are committed to providing the best possible basketball experience for players and fans where hate speech has absolutely no place. Indiana is home to the world's greatest fans, and we look forward to an exciting season of Fever basketball.' Article content
Associated Press
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Caitlin Clark says it was too loud to hear alleged racial comments but supports WNBA investigation
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark says it was too loud inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse for her to hear racial comments from fans directed at Angel Reese during Saturday's season-opening 93-58 victory over the Chicago Sky and that she supports the WNBA's investigation. A person familiar with the situation confirmed the details to The Associated Press on Sunday on condition of anonymity because the league had not publicly identified the subject of the taunts or who made the allegations. Reese, who is Black, and Clark, who is white, met for the seventh time in their ongoing — and much-talked-about — rivalry. Clark won the league's Rookie of the Year Award last season with Reese finishing second. Clark spoke for the first time publicly about the allegations Monday after practice. Indiana hosts Atlanta on Tuesday night. 'It's super loud in here, and though I didn't hear anything, I think that's why they're doing the investigation,' Clark said. 'That's why they're looking into it. That doesn't mean nothing happened, so I'll just trust the league's investigation, and I'm sure they'll do the right thing.' Both teams also have issued statements supporting the investigation, and so has the WNBA Players Union. Reese was booed during player introductions, and they reached a crescendo when she walked to the free-throw line after Clark smacked Reese's arm to avoid giving up an open layup with 4:38 left in the third quarter. Reese lost the ball and fell to the court before getting up and attempting to confront Clark as she walked away. Fever center Aliyah Boston stepped between the players and following a replay review, the refs upgraded Clark's foul to a flagrant 1. Reese and Boston each drew technical fouls. While Reese, Clark, Fever coach Stephanie White and Sky coach Tyler Marsh all called it a basketball play in their postgame news conferences, none of the four addressed hearing what league officials described as potentially 'hateful' comments. 'I told the team, obviously, we're going to cooperate fully with the investigation,' White said Monday. 'But there's no place for that in our league, whether it's at home, whether it's on the road. It doesn't matter. We want to encourage our players, our staff to bring recognition to it in real time if it's heard, if it's seen or anything of that nature.' Clark finished the game with her third career triple double — 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists — as the Fever matched second-largest victory margin in franchise history. Reese had 12 points and 17 rebounds in her first regular-season game since suffering a season-ending wrist injury in September. The league also launched its 'No Space for Hate' this season, a multi-dimensional platform designed to combat hate and promote respect across all WNBA spaces both online and in arenas. The league is focused on four areas: enhanced technological features to detect hateful comments online; increased emphasis on team, arena and league security measures; reinforcing mental health resources; and alignment against hate. This will be the league's first major test of it. 'There's no place for that in our game, no place for that in our society and certainly we want every person that comes into our arena — whether player, whether fan — to have a great experience,' Clark said. 'I appreciate the league doing that (investigation), I appreciate the Fever organization has been at the forefront of this really since Day 1 and what they're doing. With the investigation, we'll leave that up to them to find anything and take proper action if so.' ___ AP Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg in New York also contributed to this report. ___ AP WNBA:
CBC
19-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
WNBA investigating alleged racial slurs by fans toward Angel Reese during Indiana game: reports
The WNBA is investigating allegations of racial comments directed toward Angel Reese by fans during the Chicago Sky's loss to Caitlin Clark and the Fever at Indiana on Saturday, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Sunday on condition of anonymity because the league had not publicly identified the subject of the taunts or who made the allegations. "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. "We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter." Reese, who is Black, and Clark, who is white, met for the seventh time in their ongoing — and much-talked-about — rivalry. Clark was named Rookie of the Year last season and Reese finished second in the voting. The WNBA Players Union released a statement soon after the league's comment on the matter. "The WNBPA is aware of reports of hateful comments at yesterday's game in Indianapolis and supports the WNBA's current investigation into this matter. Such behavior is unacceptable in our sport," the 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." Sky president and CEO Adam Fox said later Sunday in a statement that the organization welcomes the league'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," he said. 4 more meetings this season The Sky and Fever will play four more times during the regular season. "We are aware of the allegations of inappropriate fan conduct during yesterday's game and we are working closely with the WNBA to complete their investigation," the Fever said in a statement. "We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players." Reese had 12 points and 17 rebounds in the 93-58 loss to the Fever. The Sky forward and Clark had an incident on the court with 4:38 left in the third quarter. It started with Reese grabbing an offensive rebound and Clark slapping Reese's arm hard enough to jar the ball loose and knock Reese to floor. When Reese got up, she tried to confront Clark before Indiana centre Aliyah Boston stepped in between the players. Clark's third personal foul was upgraded to a flagrant 1, while Boston and Reese each drew technical fouls following a replay review by the referees. Both players downplayed the play after the game. The league launched "No Space for Hate" this season, a multi-dimensional platform designed to combat hate and promote respect across all WNBA spaces both online and in arenas. The league is focused on four areas: enhanced technological features to detect hateful comments online; increased emphasis on team, arena and league security measures; reinforcing mental health resources; and alignment against hate. This will be the league's first test of it.
National Post
19-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
WNBA investigating racial slurs by fans made at Angel Reese during Indiana game
NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA is investigating racial comments directed toward Angel Reese by fans during the Chicago Sky's loss to Caitlin Clark and the Fever at Indiana on Saturday, according to a person familiar with the situation. Article content Article content The person spoke to The Associated Press on Sunday on condition of anonymity because the league had not publicly identified the subject of the taunts or who made the allegations. Article content '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. 'We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.' Article content A statement from the WNBA on yesterday's Sky vs Fever game in Indianapolis: — Annie Costabile (@AnnieCostabile) May 18, 2025 Article content Reese, who is Black, and Clark, who is white, met for the seventh time in their ongoing — and much-talked-about — rivalry. Clark was named Rookie of the Year last season and Reese finished second in the voting. Article content The WNBA Players Union released a statement soon after the league's comment on the matter. Article content 'The WNBPA is aware of reports of hateful comments at yesterday's game in Indianapolis and supports the WNBA's current investigation into this matter. Such behaviour is unacceptable in our sport,' the 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.' Article content Sky president and CEO Adam Fox said later Sunday in a statement that the organization welcomes the league's investigation. Article content '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,' he said. Article content The Sky and Fever will play four more times during the regular season. Article content 'We are aware of the allegations of inappropriate fan conduct during yesterday's game and we are working closely with the WNBA to complete their investigation,' the Fever said in a statement. 'We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players.' Article content Reese had 12 points and 17 rebounds in the 93-58 loss to the Fever. The Sky forward and Clark had an incident on the court with 4:38 left in the third quarter. It started with Reese grabbing an offensive rebound and Clark slapping Reese's arm hard enough to jar the ball loose and knock Reese to floor. Article content When Reese got up, she tried to confront Clark before Indiana center Aliyah Boston stepped in between the players. Clark's third personal foul was upgraded to a flagrant 1, while Boston and Reese each drew technical fouls following a replay review by the referees. Article content Both players downplayed the play after the game.
Washington Post
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
WNBA investigating racial slurs by fans made at Angel Reese during Indiana game, AP source says
NEW YORK — The WNBA is investigating racial comments directed toward Angel Reese by fans during the Chicago Sky's loss to Caitlin Clark and the Fever at Indiana on Saturday, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Sunday on condition of anonymity because the league had not publicly identified the subject of the taunts or who made the allegations. '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. 'We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.' Reese, who is Black, and Clark, who is white, met for the seventh time in their ongoing — and much-talked-about — rivalry . Clark was named Rookie of the Year last season and Reese finished second in the voting. The WNBA Players Union released a statement soon after the league's comment on the matter. 'The WNBPA is aware of reports of hateful comments at yesterday's game in Indianapolis and supports the WNBA's current investigation into this matter. Such behavior is unacceptable in our sport,' the 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.' Sky president and CEO Adam Fox said later Sunday in a statement that the organization welcomes the league'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,' he said. The Sky and Fever will play four more times during the regular season. 'We are aware of the allegations of inappropriate fan conduct during yesterday's game and we are working closely with the WNBA to complete their investigation,' the Fever said in a statement. 'We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players.' Reese had 12 points and 17 rebounds in the 93-58 loss to the Fever. The Sky forward and Clark had an incident on the court with 4:38 left in the third quarter. It started with Reese grabbing an offensive rebound and Clark slapping Reese's arm hard enough to jar the ball loose and knock Reese to floor. When Reese got up, she tried to confront Clark before Indiana center Aliyah Boston stepped in between the players. Clark's third personal foul was upgraded to a flagrant 1, while Boston and Reese each drew technical fouls following a replay review by the referees. Both players downplayed the play after the game. The league launched 'No Space for Hate' this season, a multi-dimensional platform designed to combat hate and promote respect across all WNBA spaces both online and in arenas. The league is focused on four areas: enhanced technological features to detect hateful comments online; increased emphasis on team, arena and league security measures; reinforcing mental health resources; and alignment against hate. This will be the league's first test of it. 'It's nice in words, but we got to see actions,' Aces star A'ja Wilson said Friday after practice. 'Hopefully people can take actions and understand this is bigger than basketball. We're true people behind it. Any shoe that we wear, any jersey we have on, we're human. People have to respect that. I hope they pay attention and listen to the words.' ___ AP WNBA:
