The Indiana Fever's loss to the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA playoffs was overshadowed by the condemnation of racist abuse from both teams and the league. Fever star Caitlin Clark has garnered significant attention during her rookie season, becoming one of the most prominent sports figures in the U.S. This attention has unfortunately attracted a wave of racist, sexist, and homophobic comments online, often from individuals claiming to support Clark, who is white, in a league where the majority of players are Black and many are gay.
During Wednesday's game, which the Connecticut Sun won 87-81 to secure a 2-0 series victory, reports surfaced of racist abuse from some Indiana home crowd members. Some Connecticut Sun players have also faced online abuse. Clark suffered a black eye in Game 1 after a foul by DiJonai Carrington, who and Clark both stated the injury was unintentional. Before Game 2, Carrington shared a disturbing email on social media that included a racist slur and a violent threat.
After the game, Sun forward Alyssa Thomas described the racist abuse as the worst she has encountered in her 11-year career. "It's unacceptable, honestly," Thomas said. "There's no place for it. We've been professional throughout, but I've never been called the things I've been called on social media." Thomas emphasized that while basketball is progressing positively, they do not want fans who degrade players with racial slurs.
Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides also denounced the abuse, stating, "It's a lot of hurtful, hateful speech out there that's happening, and it's unacceptable." The WNBA issued a statement affirming that it will not tolerate racist, derogatory, or threatening comments about players or anyone affiliated with the league. League security is actively monitoring threat-related activity and will collaborate with teams and arenas to take necessary measures, including involving law enforcement if needed.
In June, Clark herself condemned those using her name to abuse other players, saying, "People should not be using my name to push those agendas. It's disappointing. It's not acceptable." During Wednesday's game, Clark had a verbal altercation with a fan in the second row, who was briefly removed by security before being allowed to return. The specifics of the confrontation remain unclear.
