The WNBA issued a statement Sunday responding to allegations of racist behavior by fans at the season opening game between the Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Saturday. The Fever, led by Caitlin Clark, soundly defeated Angel Reese and the Sky, 93-58. (Clark and Reese got into it in the third quarter details below.) The announcement comes just days after the league announced a “No Space for Hate” campaign.
Statement by the WNBA, “The following is a statement from the WNBA regarding yesterday’s game in Indianapolis. 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 game was marred by rough play between intense rivals Reese and Clark in the third quarter that led to a flagrant foul on Clark and a missed free throw by Reese that some fans thought may have been the result of ‘monkey sounds’ heard in the arena as Reese took her free throw. There were other claims that racist taunts were heard throughout the game.
Reese was near the basket setting up for a rebound when she shoved Fever player Natasha Howard hard in the back to clear her out for the rebound and easy shot. Clark saw the foul and looked for the call, then, when there wasn’t a foul called on Reese, gave Reese a hard foul to disrupt her easy shot and force her to the free throw line. Some viewers thought Clark gave Reese an extra shove that knocked her to the floor, which apparently the refs saw and gave her the flagrant add-on to the foul charge.