Latest news with #WNBPA
Fox News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Caitlin Clark speaks out on WNBA's probe into alleged 'hateful comments' toward Angel Reese
Caitlin Clark addressed the WNBA's investigation into alleged "hateful comments" toward Angel Reese during a shootaround on Monday as the Indiana Fever prepare for the Atlanta Dream. The WNBA launched its investigation on Sunday as the league condemned "racism, hate and discrimination in all forms." There were no specifics detailed about the alleged incident. "There's no place for that in our game," Clark told reporters, via the Indy Star. "There's no place for that in society. Certainly we want every person that comes into our arena, whether player, whether fan, to have a great experience. "I appreciate the league doing that. The Fever organization has been at the forefront of that since, really, day one, what they're doing. Hopefully the investigation — we'll leave that up to them to find anything and take the proper action if so." Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Mel Raines issued a statement on the matter. "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," Raines said. "We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players." The Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) also released a statement, calling "such behavior unacceptable." "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," the union said. "Such behavior is unacceptable for 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 WNBA launched its "No Space for Hate" campaign before the 2025 season tipped off. The campaign will include the use of AI social media monitoring tools that will help the league enforce a revised code of conduct. "As part of the comprehensive plan, the WNBA is rolling out an AI-powered technology solution to monitor social media activity, in partnership with players and teams, to help protect the community from online hate speech and harassment," it said. A revised WNBA fan code of conduct includes regulations for fans on social media, and threats of sanctioning those fans from official content if they are violated. The new policy lists racist, homophobic, sexist, sexual, threatening or libelous content as "subject to blocking or deletion." "Repeat violations of these guidelines may result in the violator no longer being able to follow our news, comment on our posts or send us messages," the policy reads. "Additionally, any direct threats to players, referees or other league and team personnel may be referred to law enforcement and may result in the violator being banned from all WNBA arenas and events." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA investigating racial slurs made at Angel Reese by fans
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 condition of anonymity because the league had not publicly identified who the taunts were directed toward or who made the allegations. Advertisement '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. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese shoots during a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis (AP Photo/AJ Mast) '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. Advertisement '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 during the regular season this year. '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 the floor. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots around Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso (10) during the first half (AP Photo/AJ Mast) When Reese got up, she tried to confront Clark before Indiana center Aliyah Boston stepped in between the two 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. Advertisement 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-arena. The league is focused on four key areas: enhanced technological features to detect hateful comments online; increased emphasis on team, arena and league security measures; reinforcing mental health resources; and alignment of core against hate. This will be the league's first test of it.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA investigating racial slurs made at Angel Reese by fans
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 condition of anonymity because the league had not publicly identified who the taunts were directed toward or who made the allegations. Advertisement '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. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese shoots during a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis (AP Photo/AJ Mast) '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. Advertisement '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 during the regular season this year. '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 the floor. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots around Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso (10) during the first half (AP Photo/AJ Mast) When Reese got up, she tried to confront Clark before Indiana center Aliyah Boston stepped in between the two 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. Advertisement 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-arena. The league is focused on four key areas: enhanced technological features to detect hateful comments online; increased emphasis on team, arena and league security measures; reinforcing mental health resources; and alignment of core against hate. This will be the league's first test of it.
Japan Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
WNBA vows to investigate racial comments directed at Angel Reese during opener
The WNBA is investigating allegations of hateful, racial comments made by a fan at the combative season opener between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever on Saturday in Indianapolis. "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 Sunday. "We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter." The Women's National Basketball Players Association also addressed the reports of "hateful comments" in a statement Sunday, saying, "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 added. The statements did not indicate who was the target of the remarks, but the Indianapolis Star and other outlets reported that Sky forward Angel Reese was the target. Some social media users alleged that the ABC/ESPN broadcast of the game picked up the incident in question. One video showed a male fan — wearing a red replica Caitlin Clark jersey with matching shorts — sitting courtside and making high-pitched noises while Reese shot a free throw with 4:38 left in the third quarter. The man then stood and yelled in Reese's direction after she missed the free throw. Reese was at the line — and Indiana's sellout crowd was particularly charged up — because Clark had been tagged with a flagrant foul when she raked her arm across Reese's right arm while breaking up a potential Reese layup. Reese landed hard on the floor, but rose quickly and strode in Clark's direction, incensed. While Clark turned her back to Reese and walked away, Fever teammate Aliyah Boston stepped in to slow Reese and they exchanged words that led to a technical foul for both players. It wasn't the first time Clark and Reese have competed fiercely on the court. Their rivalry dates back to their college days, when Reese played for NCAA champion LSU and Clark starred for Iowa. LSU beat the Hawkeyes 102-85 in the 2023 title game in a tense atmosphere. On Thursday, the day before the tipoff of the current WNBA season began, the league unveiled its "No Space for Hate" campaign. The policy aims, among other things, to protect the WNBA community from hate speech and harassment. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert included these words as part of her statement: "We want our arenas, and our social platforms filled with energy and fandom — not hate and vitriol. That means turning our values into action: strengthening digital and physical security, expanding access to mental health resources, and unifying our message across the league. It's our responsibility to protect what makes this sport so special and ensure we continue to inspire the next generation of women's basketball fans."
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA condemns 'alleged hateful fan comments' after Angel Reese reportedly targeted at Fever game
The WNBA is looking into "alleged hateful fan comments" from the game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky on Saturday, according to a statement released by the league on Sunday. Though the WNBA did not say who was subject to these comments, multiple reports indicate that racial comments were directed at Sky forward Angel Reese by members (or potentially a member) of the Fever home crowd. Advertisement "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 wrote in the statement. The league initially did not provide any details about the incident, but later clarified its statement was in reference to fan comments. The updated statement was seemingly issued to dispel any connection to Caitlin Clark's flagrant 1 foul on Reese. The Fever released its own statement on Sunday, saying that the team was "aware of the allegations of inappropriate fan conduct" during the game on Saturday, and that they were working with the WNBA on the investigation. Advertisement "We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players," Indiana wrote in the statement. In a statement shared with media, the WNBA players' association (WNBPA) wrote that it supported the WNBA's investigation into "hateful comments" at Saturday's game. "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 players' association wrote. The Clark-Reese rivalry, one that began in college, has extended to the WNBA, with the Fever-Sky matchup becoming a Midwest rivalry of its own. This is not the first time that a WNBA player has been targeted while playing against Clark and the Fever. Last season, then-Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington accidentally poked Clark in the eye during a game. Even though both players thoroughly denied the play was intentional, Carrington received death threats, racial comments and threats of assault in the weeks following. Advertisement Carrington's then-teammate, Alyssa Thomas, told reporters after a game last season that she had "never experienced the racial comments [like I have] from the Indiana Fever fan base." "Basketball is headed in a great direction. But we don't want fans that are going to degrade us and call us racial names," Thomas said.
