The WNBA announced on Sunday the league is investigating alleged racial slurs by fans at the Chicago Sky–Indiana Fever game in Indianapolis on Saturday. Reports state the alleged racist taunts were directed at Sky star player Angel Reese.
The Fever crushed the Sky in the teams’ season opener, 93-58. The game heated up in the third quarter when Clark did a hard take foul on Reese to force her to the free throw line after Reese shoved a Fever player to grab a rebound for an easy layup. Reese came after Clark, but was blocked as Clark walked away.
Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark walks away from Chicago Sky player Angel Reese after giving Reese a hard foul in a game at Indianapolis, screen image via ESPN, May 17, 2025
The reaction to Caitlin Clark’s “flagrant foul” is even more hilarious when you realize Angel Reese shoved somebody in the back with 2 hands to get the rebound. pic.twitter.com/5lPCqjfg1f
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) May 18, 2025
The ESPN clip starts (curious edit choice) right after Reese shoved Howard out of the way. Afterward, Reese got up to confront Clark, but Clark turned her back and walked away.
Caitlin Clark received a flagrant foul on this play.
Aliyah Boston and Angel Reese received offsetting technical fouls. pic.twitter.com/jzQYEW92TW
— ESPN (@espn) May 17, 2025
This angle appears to show Clark shoving Reese with her left arm:
This wasn’t a flop, Angel Reese had a point to react this way. I also don’t believe it was done maliciously by Caitlin Clark, but it definitely was a flagrant foul, because she pushed Angel, clearly. pic.twitter.com/hRLHvfX2DC
— Rashan Reeves (@Babyblack1977) May 18, 2025
One problem with the WNBA’s investigation is that there appears to be no evidence of any racial slurs. No video has been produced as of yet, nor have any players or coaches said they heard them.
Fever star player Caitlin Clark told reporters Tuesday she did not hear any racism at the game.
Caitlin Clark says she didn’t hear the alleged racist comments directed at Angel Reese during Fever vs. Sky but supports the WNBA’s investigation. pic.twitter.com/aJ4qS1KlhQ
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 20, 2025
Chicago Sky coach Tyler Marsh also told reporters Tuesday no one on the Sky heard any racist taunts.
Tyler Marsh says the Sky were not aware of any hate speech during the game and only found out reports from social media. the WNBA investigation is based on social media reports pic.twitter.com/5fQz5dKjvZ
— correlation (@nosyone4) May 20, 2025
Angel Reese addressed the WNBA investigation in comments to reporters on Tuesday without mentioning what, if anything, she heard in response to leading questions from reporters.
Angel Reese took 3 questions about the WNBA opening an investigation into reported hate speech directed at her during the Sky-Fever game Saturday. After that a Sky media rep quickly responded “next question” when reporters asked follow ups. #Sky pic.twitter.com/qsREFpJCXk
— Josh Frydman (@Josh_Frydman) May 20, 2025
In a video posted Sunday, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who was courtside at the game Saturday, said he did no hear any racial taunts from the crowd, which he noted was made up of a lot of families and young girls:
The @WNBA can’t get out of their own way. To issue a statement in response to trolls is a joke. It makes @IndianaFever fans look bad for no reason. It’s like they won’t be happy till they kill the golden goose.
(If I’m wrong I’ll apologize and eat my words but I’m 100% right) https://t.co/wYrmk5d8Pe pic.twitter.com/LCib9r41l4
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) May 18, 2025
Portnoy later defended himself over unfounded allegations that he said something wrong to Reese during the game, “To clarify I yelled “Ball Don’t Lie” when Angel missed the tech. WNBA wants to cuff and stuff me for it.”
To clarify I yelled “Ball Don’t Lie” when Angel missed the tech. WNBA wants to cuff and stuff me for it. https://t.co/ooLr95bipB
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) May 20, 2025
Sports reporter Christine Brennan reported on the status of the investigation, and its apparent lack of evidence, in a post on X Tuesday, “Nearly three days after allegations of racist comments in the Sky-Fever game, I’m being told the WNBA has no timeline for completion of its investigation and there will be no announcement — either if racist behavior occurred or if it did not occur — until the review is completed.”
Nearly three days after allegations of racist comments in the Sky-Fever game, I’m being told the WNBA has no timeline for completion of its investigation and there will be no announcement — either if racist behavior occurred or if it did not occur — until the review is completed.
— Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) May 20, 2025
The WNBA is apparently responding to online complaints of “monkey sounds” picked up on the broadcast that apparently was just a fan making absurd yodeling sounds:
Hey @WNBA from your beloved ESPN the sound you hear is from a sound machine that sounds like a freaking dolphin & people booing. Please explain how this is racist? So fans are not allowed to boo now?
At this point maybe just change your name to The WKumbaya league! pic.twitter.com/KnnFhb4ZgH
— Mama Lil PDX OR (@trimetfan) May 18, 2025
A video report on the fan:
Here’s the racist noises coming from Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever fans pic.twitter.com/HiSa3gliGs
— Caitlin Clark By The Numbers (@CCByTheNumbers) May 19, 2025
But as Portnoy says, the WNBA has given Indian Fever fans a bad rap just as the season started.
The post Caitlin Clark, Chicago Coach Say They Did Not Hear Alleged Racial Slurs Hurled at Angel Reese at Sky-Fever Game Being Investigated by WNBA appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.