Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark didn’t like what she heard from a fan late in the first quarter of Wednesday’s playoff loss at Connecticut, so she motioned for officials to remove the man from his second-row seat. . In the blink of an eye, the security guard tapped the man on the shoulder and ushered him to a discreet location, where the discussion took place.
Eventually, the man was allowed to return to his seat. And although the incident lasted only a few minutes, it lingered within the WNBA community as optics figures raised questions about whether the league has double standards when it comes to handling harassment complaints. More obviously, the quick resolution of the white players’ complaints stood out in contrast to months of silence from the league office as black players became targets of racist hate on social media and on the field.
After Caitlin Clark pointed this out to the referee, security spoke to the fan. pic.twitter.com/N6RCnAv1qz
— ESPN (@espn) September 26, 2024
The influx of attention to the WNBA, which followed Clark and fellow rookie Angel Reese into the league, threatened the reputation of the WNBA, which has worked hard for inclusivity, empathy and tolerance. It also raised questions about the leadership of Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who earlier this month contributed to the toxicity by ostensibly saying racism was good for growing businesses.
She was asked in a CNBC interview what the league is doing to stay ahead of the “darker” and “more threatening” comments from fans on social media. Instead of directly condemning the vitriol, she dodged the question by suggesting that the rivalry between Clark and Reese was good because it brought a lot of interest and attention to the league, not to mention more corporate money for the players. They should simply ignore unsavory comments, she said.
She may not have meant to imply that increased revenue was an acceptable excuse for overt racism, but that’s how the players’ union and some of its members interpreted her words. Public criticism of Engelbert’s comments prompted the director to clarify his comments on social media the following day. “To be clear, hate or racism of any kind has no place in the WNBA or anywhere else,” she posted. A letter to all players in the league promising future participation.
This was a positive first step in a problem that continues to worsen. Connecticut standout Alyssa Thomas spoke about it Wednesday night after knocking the Fever out of the playoffs.
“In my 11-year career, I have never once experienced racist comments from the Indiana Fever fan base,” she said. “This is frankly unacceptable. There is no room for that. We were professional throughout everything, but we have never been called the things we are called on social media. There is no room for that. Basketball is moving in a good direction, but we don’t want fans disparaging us and using racial slurs. … Something needs to be done.”
The WNBA issued a statement condemning racism and pledged to work with teams, stadiums and law enforcement to address the issue. But what does this actually mean? And why should we believe Engelbert has the answer? It’s truly surprising how unprepared she was for this moment, even though everyone knew Clark and Reese were bringing into the league a large and loyal fan base that tended to follow racial and cultural lines.
You only get one chance to make a first impression on such an important topic, so Engelbert’s initial failure to get it right was disappointing and unsettling.
I’ve lost a lot of respect for the wnba this year and I’m a former player. The leadership has placed money above player protection and now they will receive a statement at the end of the season. no. I miss that. #isaidWhat did you say? https://t.co/K60SwHMbXP
— Tynesha Lewis (@iamtynesha) September 26, 2024
Connecticut winger DiJonai Carrington offered a post on his Instagram Story before Wednesday’s game reminding him of the league’s avoidance. According to her and Clark, it includes a screenshot of an email she received in Game 1 when she inadvertently poked Clark in the eye. The email called her a “worthless n—– b—-” and said, “I hope someone rapes me.” “You cut your hair.”
Some fans at Mohegan Sun Arena on Wednesday went beyond the typical cheers and jeers seen at most sporting events. One woman wore a T-shirt that said “BAN NAILS” and held up a hand with comically long fingernails made out of colored paper, a troubling caricature of Carrington and black culture. Another man wearing a red Donald Trump baseball cap held a sign that read “Make Basketball Great Again #22,” a nod to Clark’s jersey number. There are too many calls to keep politics out of sports, right?
Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner said Thursday there should be a uniform harassment policy.
“I don’t appreciate the new fans sitting there and yelling racist slurs at me, my teammates and the people I play against,” he added. “We all deserve to play in a safe environment.”
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WNBA criticized for negative messages sent to players
Carrington’s girlfriend is NaLyssa Smith, who plays for the Fever. After Wednesday’s game, Smith said Carrington had been followed and received death threats. Reese explained that he received the same treatment after taunting Clark during LSU’s NCAA championship game two seasons ago. She expanded on that Thursday in a social media post.
“For the past two years, the media has benefited from my pain and my perceived villainy to create a story,” she wrote. “They allowed this. This was beneficial to them. I share my experience of what has happened to me from time to time, but I have also allowed this to happen to me for too long and now other players in this league are dealing with and experiencing the same thing. This is not okay at all. Anything more than criticism of playing the game we love is wrong. “I feel sorry for all the players who have gone through or continue to go through the same thing as me,” he said.
Clark criticized the offense on Friday, similar to comments he’s made before this season.
“No one in our league should have to face racism, hurt, disrespect, hate speech and threats of any kind,” she said. “They are not fans. “They are trolls and they do a real disservice to our league, our organization and the people of the WNBA.”
Clark’s comments are welcome, but calling these attackers “trolls” is overly simplistic and dismissive. Racist attacks are perpetrated by racists. This is not being uptight or simply gaslighting.
The league and its teams are not powerless in this matter. Hatred can never be completely eradicated. It’s as much a part of this country’s history as the stars and stripes. But there are steps you can take. First of all, teams can control who and what they bring to their stadium. The only reason someone would link Trump’s campaign slogan to a sporting event that primarily features black and/or queer women is to provoke a reaction that has absolutely nothing to do with basketball. The same goes for women with paper fingernails like Wolverine.
Teams may also cross-check the names of social media accounts posting hateful content with the names of season ticket holders. If a match is found, that person may be banned from the game.
Finally, Engelbert can hire someone with the expertise and skills to help the league navigate the intersections of race, culture, sexual orientation and misogyny. That person will help restore the league’s reputation as a place where the interests of black and queer players are just as important as the interests of straight, white, and Midwesterners.
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(Cathy Engelbert Photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
