The WNBA is investigating claims of racial slurs allegedly directed at Angel Reese by fans during a game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever on Saturday. The incident occurred amid an ongoing rivalry between Reese and Caitlin Clark , which took a more intense turn during the game, both on and off the court.
Allegations of hate-fueled comments
The controversy arose following a 93-58 loss for the Chicago Sky to the Indiana Fever, a game that featured another chapter in the much-discussed rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark . While both players had standout performances—Clark recording her third career triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, and Reese contributing 12 points and 17 rebounds, the post-game focus shifted to alleged racist comments made by fans.
A person familiar with the situation spoke to The Associated Press (AP) on Sunday, asking to remain anonymous since the league had not publicly identified those involved in the incident. In a statement, the WNBA said, “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 investigation follows allegations that, during the game, inappropriate comments were directed at Reese from the stands. The league is now working to assess the situation.
The WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) was quick to show support for both the league's investigation and for Reese. In a statement, the WNBPA said, “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 union also reinforced the importance of adhering to the WNBA’s "No Space for Hate" policy, which aims to foster respect and eliminate discrimination in both online and in-person interactions across all league spaces.
Sky president and CEO Adam Fox responded to the situation by voicing his support for 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. Both the Sky and Fever organizations issued similar statements, affirming their commitment to working closely with the WNBA to address the issue.
The incident during the game
The alleged racial slurs emerged following a physical play involving Reese and Clark during the third quarter. Clark committed a hard foul on Reese, slapping Reese's arm to prevent an open layup, which caused Reese to fall to the court. As Reese got up, she attempted to confront Clark, but Fever center Aliyah Boston stepped in to separate the players. After a replay review, the referees upgraded Clark’s foul to a flagrant 1. Both Reese and Boston received technical fouls as a result.
While both players downplayed the confrontation, calling it “just a basketball play,” things escalated off the court when fans began to react to the moment. Reese was loudly booed during player introductions, and the hostility continued when she stepped to the free-throw line after the foul.
Caitlin Clark speaks out
In her first public comments about the allegations, Caitlin Clark acknowledged the loud atmosphere in the arena but did not personally hear the slurs. “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 on Monday after practice. “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.”
The viral clip and online reactions
Following the game, a video of the Chicago Sky team exiting the locker room was shared widely on social media. The footage, which had nothing to do with Reese directly, featured a loud reaction from fans as the players ran onto the court. One viewer claimed to have heard the N-word directed at Reese, sparking an immediate backlash. “I’m sorry, did I just hear the N-word passed to Angel?” one user posted.
This led to a wave of reactions, with some fans defending the supposed slur and others disputing the claim, suggesting the word used was not offensive. One fan argued that the name "Milla" was heard instead of the racial slur. This debate fueled a larger social media frenzy, with users arguing over what exactly had been said.
Reese herself has been vocal about the online harassment and hate she has faced. In a 2024 episode of her podcast, Unapologetically Angel , she discussed the extreme levels of hate she has received, including death threats, AI-generated explicit images, and even being stalked. She has since deleted her Instagram account to cope with the harassment.
In the aftermath, Reese pointed out that much of the negativity seemed to come from Caitlin Clark’s fan base. “I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to it, and I don’t believe [Clark] stands on any of that,” Reese stated. However, she emphasized that she does not think Clark herself is involved in the hostility.
WNBA's “No space for hate” initiative
This incident marks a major test for the WNBA’s “No Space for Hate” initiative, which the league launched this season. The program is designed to combat hate speech and foster a respectful environment both in arenas and on social media. The initiative is focused on four key areas: using technology to detect hateful online comments, enhancing security at arenas, reinforcing mental health resources for players, and taking a firm stance against discrimination in all forms.
A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces spoke out about the need for meaningful action in combating hate. “It’s nice in words, but we got to see actions,” Wilson said 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.”
Allegations of hate-fueled comments
The controversy arose following a 93-58 loss for the Chicago Sky to the Indiana Fever, a game that featured another chapter in the much-discussed rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark . While both players had standout performances—Clark recording her third career triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, and Reese contributing 12 points and 17 rebounds, the post-game focus shifted to alleged racist comments made by fans.
A person familiar with the situation spoke to The Associated Press (AP) on Sunday, asking to remain anonymous since the league had not publicly identified those involved in the incident. In a statement, the WNBA said, “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 investigation follows allegations that, during the game, inappropriate comments were directed at Reese from the stands. The league is now working to assess the situation.
The WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) was quick to show support for both the league's investigation and for Reese. In a statement, the WNBPA said, “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 union also reinforced the importance of adhering to the WNBA’s "No Space for Hate" policy, which aims to foster respect and eliminate discrimination in both online and in-person interactions across all league spaces.
Sky president and CEO Adam Fox responded to the situation by voicing his support for 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. Both the Sky and Fever organizations issued similar statements, affirming their commitment to working closely with the WNBA to address the issue.
The incident during the game
The alleged racial slurs emerged following a physical play involving Reese and Clark during the third quarter. Clark committed a hard foul on Reese, slapping Reese's arm to prevent an open layup, which caused Reese to fall to the court. As Reese got up, she attempted to confront Clark, but Fever center Aliyah Boston stepped in to separate the players. After a replay review, the referees upgraded Clark’s foul to a flagrant 1. Both Reese and Boston received technical fouls as a result.
While both players downplayed the confrontation, calling it “just a basketball play,” things escalated off the court when fans began to react to the moment. Reese was loudly booed during player introductions, and the hostility continued when she stepped to the free-throw line after the foul.
Caitlin Clark speaks out
In her first public comments about the allegations, Caitlin Clark acknowledged the loud atmosphere in the arena but did not personally hear the slurs. “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 on Monday after practice. “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.”
The viral clip and online reactions
Following the game, a video of the Chicago Sky team exiting the locker room was shared widely on social media. The footage, which had nothing to do with Reese directly, featured a loud reaction from fans as the players ran onto the court. One viewer claimed to have heard the N-word directed at Reese, sparking an immediate backlash. “I’m sorry, did I just hear the N-word passed to Angel?” one user posted.
I’m sorry did I just hear the n word pass Angel?
— Gingerbread 💋 (@BriaMarieM18) May 19, 2025
This led to a wave of reactions, with some fans defending the supposed slur and others disputing the claim, suggesting the word used was not offensive. One fan argued that the name "Milla" was heard instead of the racial slur. This debate fueled a larger social media frenzy, with users arguing over what exactly had been said.
Reese herself has been vocal about the online harassment and hate she has faced. In a 2024 episode of her podcast, Unapologetically Angel , she discussed the extreme levels of hate she has received, including death threats, AI-generated explicit images, and even being stalked. She has since deleted her Instagram account to cope with the harassment.
In the aftermath, Reese pointed out that much of the negativity seemed to come from Caitlin Clark’s fan base. “I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to it, and I don’t believe [Clark] stands on any of that,” Reese stated. However, she emphasized that she does not think Clark herself is involved in the hostility.
WNBA's “No space for hate” initiative
This incident marks a major test for the WNBA’s “No Space for Hate” initiative, which the league launched this season. The program is designed to combat hate speech and foster a respectful environment both in arenas and on social media. The initiative is focused on four key areas: using technology to detect hateful online comments, enhancing security at arenas, reinforcing mental health resources for players, and taking a firm stance against discrimination in all forms.
A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces spoke out about the need for meaningful action in combating hate. “It’s nice in words, but we got to see actions,” Wilson said 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.”
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