CNN
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The WNBA said it was investigating reports of “hateful” abuse directed towards Angel Reese during the Chicago Sky’s loss to the Indiana Fever on Saturday.

“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, per the Associated Press. “We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.”

CNN Sports has contacted the WNBA for comment.

It’s unclear when the alleged incident happened in Saturday’s game but, the Fever released a statement Sunday saying they are “aware of the allegations of inappropriate fan conduct” during the game.

“We are working closely with the WNBA to complete their investigation,” Mel Raines – CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Fever – said in the statement. “We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players.”

With 4:38 remaining in the third quarter and the Fever up 56-42, Reese claimed an offensive rebound and was driving towards the basket when Indiana star Caitlin Clark made hard contact with her right arm, knocking the Sky forward to the ground and sending the ball rolling away.

Reese, clearly upset, got straight back to her feet and tried to confront the 2024 Rookie of the Year, who walked away with her back to Reese while Indiana’s Aliyah Boston stepped between the two. Clark’s foul was upgraded from a personal to a flagrant 1, while Reese and Boston each received technical fouls.

Both players downplayed the incident afterwards and it is unclear whether the alleged abusive comments were related to the confrontation.

Chicago Sky President and CEO Adam Fox said the franchise “welcome(s) the WNBA’s investigation of allegations of fan misconduct” during the game.

“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 continued in a statement.

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) said it was “aware of reports of hateful comments” and supports the WNBA’s investigation.

“Such behavior is unacceptable in our sport,” the players’ union said in a statement. “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 in the regular season.

Clark finished with a triple-double – 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists – in the season opener while Reese had 12 points and 17 rebounds.

The pair faced off four times last year in their WNBA debut seasons, with the Fever winning three of the contests. Clark was named Rookie of the Year with all but one of the 67 votes, with the other vote going to Reese.

Both players have played down the rivalry, but after heated clashes at the collegiate level – most notably in the 2023 NCAA women’s championship game – the basketball stars have been closely linked.

Ahead of the new season, the WNBA unveiled its aforementioned “No Space for Hate” campaign, aimed at targeting hate and promoting respect in women’s basketball, both online and in stadiums.

“We believe that basketball can be a unifying force – a place where people from all walks of life come together not just to watch a game, but to connect,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. “We want our arenas, and our social platforms filled with energy and fandom – not hate and vitriol.”

The league said the new venture will introduce technology to recognize hateful language used online, increase security in arenas and for teams, provide more mental health resources for players and an “alignment of core against hate.”

CNN
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Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark says she supports the WNBA’s investigation into allegations of “hateful” abuse by fans directed at Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese during Saturday’s game between the two teams.

The WNBA said after the alleged incident that it “strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms,” while the Fever said they are helping the league with the investigation.

“There’s no place for that in our game, there’s no place for that in society,” Clark, the 2024 Rookie of the Year, told reporters after practice on Monday.

“Certainly, we want every person who comes into our arena, whether player or fan, to have a great experience.

“I appreciate the league doing that (the investigation). I appreciate that the Fever organization has been at the forefront of that since day one. The investigation we’ll leave up to them to find anything and take the proper action if so.”

With 4:38 remaining in the third quarter and the Fever up 56-42 in Saturday’s game, Clark made hard contact with Reese’s right arm as the Sky forward drove to the basket, knocking the Sky star to the ground.

Reese, clearly upset, got straight back up to her feet and tried to confront Clark, who walked away with her back to Reese as Indiana’s Aliyah Boston stepped between the two.

Clark’s foul was upgraded from a personal to a flagrant 1, while Reese and Boston each received technical fouls.

Both players downplayed the incident afterwards and it is unclear whether the alleged abusive comments were related to the confrontation.

Though Reese and Clark have both played down their rivalry, the two players have been closely linked after heated clashes in college, most notably in the 2023 NCAA women’s championship game.

The Fever won Saturday’s season opener 93-58 with Clark posting a triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Reese had 12 points and 17 rebounds.

The two teams will play each other three more times during the regular season.

CNN
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Angel Reese on Tuesday praised the WNBA for taking up an investigation into alleged abuse aimed at the Chicago Sky player and the way the league and her team have had her back.

The WNBA said it was investigating reports of abuse directed towards the second-year forward during Chicago’s loss to the Indiana Fever on Saturday.

“Obviously there’s no place in this league for that,” Reese said during media availability on Tuesday. “I think the WNBA and our team and our organization has done a great job supporting me.”

Reese said she has received support from many people across the league following the incident and during the process of the investigation.

“Obviously it’s tough, but I think I have a great support system. I’m loved by so many people and ,obviously, in the moment it is hard to hear, but my support system is great,” the 23-year-old added.

“I’ve gone through so many different things in the past couple of years in my life, but I think just having the support and this love, and being a part of an organization that really supports me and loves me is something I just couldn’t imagine not being a part of.”

Chicago Sky head coach Tyler Marsh gave credit to Reese with how she’s dealt with the process.

“She’s handled it great. I mean, for her, it’s about basketball, so I think that’s where her mind is at and for us we want to be as locked in as possible to our game plan and what we want to do moving forward into Thursday,” Marsh said.

“I mean, Angel’s a winner. Angel’s a competitor, and she wants to be there for her teammates and we’re certainly there for her as well.”

Marsh added that all those at the franchise will be behind the star second-year player.

“I think that we always want to be there to support each other no matter what we’re going through in our personal lives or professional lives. It’s the kind of environment that we want to create here. It’s who we want to be as individuals and who we want to be as teammates.”

The WNBA said after the alleged incident that it “strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms,” while the Fever said they are helping the league with the investigation.

Indiana’s star guard Caitlin Clark issued a similar message after a Fever practice on Monday.

“There’s no place for that in our game, there’s no place for that in society,” Clark, the 2024 Rookie of the Year, told reporters after practice on Monday.

“Certainly, we want every person who comes into our arena, whether player or fan, to have a great experience,” Clark added. “I appreciate the league doing that (the investigation). I appreciate that the Fever organization has been at the forefront of that since day one. The investigation we’ll leave up to them to find anything and take the proper action if so.”

The Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky will play each other three more times during the regular season.