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 following has been released by the WNBA. pic.twitter.com/LgSImP1x3Y
— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) May 18, 2025
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.
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
Reese and Fever player Aliyah Boston were both given technical fouls. Boston was stunned to learn after the game that she had been hit with a technical.
Explainer posted by reporter Scott Agness, “Pool report with crew chief Roy Gulbeyan on Caitlin Clark’s Flagrant 1: “The foul on Clark met the criteria for Flagrant Foul 1, for wind up, impact, and follow through for the extension of the left hand to Reese’s back, which is deemed not a legitimate basketball play, and therefore deemed unnecessary contact. After the foul, there is a physical taunt technical on Boston and a verbal technical on Reese, which offset.””
Pool report with crew chief Roy Gulbeyan on Caitlin Clark’s Flagrant 1:
“The foul on Clark met the criteria for Flagrant Foul 1, for wind up, impact, and follow through for the extension of the left hand to Reese’s back, which is deemed not a legitimate basketball play, and…
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) May 17, 2025
But it was what happened after the flagrant foul and offsetting technical fouls were called that really stirred up controversy.
When Reese went to the foul line, an odd sound could be heard:
Meanwhile in Indiana, you have @IndianaFever fans getting caught making Monkey sounds (CLEARLY RACE RELATED) toward A.R. after a small interaction with C.C. .
So what’s the timeline for accountability? https://t.co/t5DyfTbF7w pic.twitter.com/zuXmFys7yY
— Marsh G (@iamMarshh) May 18, 2025
What some people took as monkey sounds, others took to be a recording of the viral laughter of YouTube influencer FlightReacts
You WNBA fans are the most pathetic people in all of sports.That sound you claim is a monkey chant from Indiana fans is from Flightreacts’ laugh. You can look for the clip of the alleged incident and compare. Do yall even know how a monkey sounds? All this because your team lost https://t.co/Vm1QsUrLQr pic.twitter.com/tiZhZPRydb
— ÔneAFC (@22_7_0) May 18, 2025
The WNBA Players Association issued a statement, “The WNBPA is aware of reports of hateful comments at yesterday’s game in Indianapolis and supports the WNBA’s current investigation into this matter. Such behavior is unacceptable in our sport. 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.”
Mel Raines, CEO of Pacers Sports and Entertainment which owns the Indiana Fever, issued a statement Sunday afternoon, “We are aware of the allegations of inappropriate fan conduct during yesterday’s game and we are working closely with the WNBA to complete their investigation. We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players.”
The Associated Press reported Sunday the alleged racial taunts being investigated by the WNBA were directed at Angel Reese (headline and excerpt):
WNBA investigating racial slurs by fans made at Angel Reese during Indiana game, AP Source says
The WNBA is investigating racial comments directed toward Angel Reese by fans during the Chicago Sky’s loss to Caitlin Clark and the Fever at Indiana on Saturday, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on Sunday on condition of anonymity because the league had not publicly identified who the taunts were directed toward or who made the allegations.
Without any hard evidence, the AP has already convicted Indiana Fever fans of being racist.
This writer found one post claiming racist behavior at the game was witnessed by an attendee, but so far no video of such behavior:
it indeed happened pic.twitter.com/4uCklu2ASo
— Trason (@Kingstunna323) May 18, 2025
Bonus video clip that helps explain the lopsided score:
Caitlin Clark with the steal from Angel Reese pic.twitter.com/hmHBr3U6ja
— Clark News Report (@report_clark) May 17, 2025
