The Chicago Sky “welcome” an investigation by the WNBA amid allegations of “fan misconduct” during the team’s first game of the season, Chief Executive Officer and Sky President Adam Fox said in a statement.
“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 said.
The statement comes after the WNBA launched an investigation into 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 who the taunts were directed toward 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.”
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 floor.
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.
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.
“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.”
Speaking to NBC Chicago’s Mike Berman in a one-on-one interview just before the team’s season opener last week, Reese said she has high hopes for this year.
“I think I had a great season, but obviously I want to get better. I’m probably my biggest critic. Nobody has to tell me anything I need to get better at – I’m my biggest person in the mirror, and I look myself in the mirror and say, ‘You can still be better,’” Reese said.
“And I think I’ve done a lot of great things – obviously my rookie year I set a lot of records, made some history, had fun at All-Star, did a lot of great things, but if you look back at the same things that were good yesterday, today things aren’t going to be as good. That’s something Kim [Mulkey] told me. Just trying to be the best version of myself, giving myself grace and just knowing the work will show,” the 23 year-old added.
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