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The WNBA denounced negative fan behavior, including racist, derogatory and threatening comments in a statement Wednesday night after players spoke out about online harassment and death threats during the 2024 playoffs.
The league-issued statement came after a series of events Wednesday, including Sun Guard DiJonai Carrington’s Instagram Story post about receiving a threatening email, Sun forward Alyssa Thomas calling out Fever fans for racist comments and Fever star Caitlin Clark’s interaction with a fan that was removed during Game 2 of the Sun-Fever first-round playoff series.
“While we welcome a growing fan base, the WNBA will not tolerate racist, derogatory, or threatening comments made about players, teams and anyone affiliated with the league,” the WNBA said in statement after the Sun swept Clark and the Fever to advance to the semifinals, where they will face the Lynx.
“League security is actively monitoring threat-related activity and will work directly with teams and arenas to take appropriate measures, to include involving law enforcement, as necessary.”
The chain of events began when Carrington — who was named the WNBA’s 2024 Most Improved Player on Wednesday — posted on her Instagram story before Wednesday’s game an email she received which included a racial slur and threats of sexual assault and death.
After the the Fever’s 87-81 loss to the Sun, Indiana forward NaLyssa Smith, who is dating Carrington, said the Sun star “has been getting death threats, followed [and] called all type of [s–t].”
Thomas addressed the situation after the game and said this is the first time in her 11-year career she had experienced racial comments from Indiana fans.
“Honestly, it’s been a lot of nonsense. I think in my 11-year career, I’ve never experienced the racial comments from the Indiana Fever fan base,” Thomas said after the game.
Thomas then pointed to Carrington and noted how trolls online used Carrington’s face on a meme of George Floyd, who was killed by a former police officer Derek Chauvin, who is white.
The image included Clark’s face edited over Chauvin’s.
Carrington called it “so sick” at the time and said the Fever “have the nastiest fans in the W” in an X post.
“When we have her face on a serious matter that happened in this world,” Thomas said of Carrington. “And it’s unacceptable, honestly … There’s no place for it.
“We’ve been professional throughout the whole entire thing, but I’ve never been called the things that I’ve been called on social media.
“Basketball is headed in a great direction, but we don’t want fans that are going to degrade us and call us racial names. I mean, we already see what’s happening in the world and what we have to deal with in that aspect. And we come to play basketball for our job and it’s fun, but we don’t want to go to work every day and have social media blown up over things like that. It’s uncalled for. Something needs to be done, whether it’s them checking their fans or this league checking, there’s no time for it anymore.”
Sun coach Stephanie White agreed with Thomas, calling it “unacceptable.”
Alyssa Thomas called out the hate that Sun players have faced from the Fever fanbase, saying she’s never experienced these type of racial comments before: “It’s uncalled for, and something needs to be done, whether it’s them checking their fans, or the league.” pic.twitter.com/qpqhkThW1p— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) September 26, 2024
“We’ve seen a lot of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia throughout the course of our country. Sport is no exception, and it’s unacceptable,” she said before applauding her team for their professionalism.
Wednesday’s game between the Sun and Fever was no exception to vitriol.
During the first quarter, Clark got into it with a fan who was sitting in the second row of courtside seats and complained to referees, who then had security remove the fan from his seat at Mohegan Sun Arena.
It’s unclear what exactly was said during the exchange.
This wasn’t the first time players spoke out about negative treatment this season — after the 2024 WNBA rookie class, highlighted by Clark and Sky star Angel Reese, brought a plethora of new fans to the league.
Reese accused Clark’s fans of being racist during a recent episode of her “Unapologetically Angel” podcast.
After that reveal, former WNBA star Renee Montgomery supported the LSU alum on her podcast.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve also opened up about toxicity and vitriol that has come along with the league’s meteoric growth and new fans.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert faced backlash from players when she sidestepped a question about how she handles the “darker” side of social media and its impact on the league’s players, specifically when it comes to Clark and Reese’s fan bases and conversations about racism and sexuality, during an interview on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” earlier this month.
Earlier in the 2024 season, Clark addressed fans using her to propel racism and negative comments about players.
