The results of a WNBA racism investigation were only surprising to many in that the league was “looking in the wrong place.”
Dating back to their time in the NCAA, the rivalry between Indiana Fever point guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky power forward Angel Reese has become a leading story during their professional careers. After fans jeered at the latter following in-game fouls, prompting allegations of racism, the league’s findings had fans insisting it was past time to investigate the players.
In a statement released by the WNBA 10 days after Clark received a flagrant foul and Reese received a technical foul, leading to free throws for the power forward amid heckling she claimed was racist, the league stated, “Based on information gathered to date, including from relevant fans, team and arena staff, as well as audio and video review of the game, we have not substantiated it. The WNBA is committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for everyone and will continue to be vigilant in enforcing our fan code of conduct.”
Reacting to the unsurprising conclusion, Outkick founder Clay Travis asserted, “The WNBA announces that after investigating they found no racist comments from Indiana fans. Shocker, I know. Angel Reese lied. She’s Jussie Smollett with a worse shooting percentage. Still no comment on Brittney Griner’s blatant racism though.”
The WNBA announces that after investigating they found no racist comments from Indiana fans. Shocker, I know. Angel Reese lied. She’s Jussie Smollett with a worse shooting percentage. Still no comment on Brittney Griner’s blatant racism though. pic.twitter.com/KvLAiFvD5x
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 27, 2025
Travis was referencing a game after the fouling incident where the Fever took on the Atlanta Dream, during which center Brittney Griner left many convinced she’d said, “f*cking white girl” in reference to Clark after she herself had fouled.
Griner was, of course, famed for having been part of a prisoner swap with Russia during then-President Joe Biden’s administration in which the U.S. handed over Viktor Bout, known as the “Merchant of Death.”
“The majority in the league, which is black women, has done everything they can to not welcome Caitlin Clark to the league. Why?” asked Travis as he compared Clark to Tiger Woods. “There has never been any cost for black WNBA players for being racist.”
He was hardly alone in calling out the league for demonizing fans while letting players skate by unchecked, and going so far as to allow them to foment increased racial tension as a moment of silence was held over the weekend after a Minnesota Lynx player took the court to memorialize George Floyd.
They were looking in the wrong place. All they have to look at their own players, like Griner.
— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) May 27, 2025
Have they checked into if some fans were thinking racist thoughts? Bigotry isn’t always out in the open. Hopefully they will look into this.
— MAZE (@mazemoore) May 27, 2025
The race card is always their Ace in the hole.
— Eebaloyd (@eebaloyd) May 27, 2025
Angel Reese literally said that she heard things. She and the Sky need to come clean about whether she was lying.
— Corbomite Maneuver (@doctorcorbomite) May 27, 2025
Didn’t this happen with BYU women’s basketball a few years ago? One of the liars on the other team (South Carolina?) claimed verbal abuse and after inspecting hundreds of hours of video from within the stadium and interviewing dozens of people they found zero evidence.
— LandDeveloperGuy (@subdivisionguy) May 27, 2025
leaving out an a pretty key part in the investigation but I don’t expect anything different from this organization tbh
— Flashey (@itzFlashey) May 27, 2025
Adding their own reactions to the investigation’s results, the team CEOs released statements as well. Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Mel Raines said, “We appreciate the swift and thorough process undertaken by the WNBA to investigate these allegations, which were not substantiated. At Gainbridge Fieldhouse, we are committed to providing the best possible basketball experience for players and fans, where hate speech has absolutely no place. Indiana is home to the world’s greatest fans, and we look forward to an exciting season of Fever basketball.”
With the glaring absence of an apology, Chicago Sky President & CEO Adam Fox said, “We appreciate the quick action by the league and the Indiana Fever to take this matter seriously and to investigate. This process demonstrates the league’s strong stance on stopping hate at all WNBA games and events, and we will continue to support those efforts.”
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 27, 2025
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) May 27, 2025
Not a single journalist demanded evidence let alone what was even said. The fake allegation of racism placed on Fever fans by the Sky who was blown out that night demands a public apology.
— Christopher The Warrior (@TheChrisMoreno) May 27, 2025
Your player straight up lied about this. Is there no accountability?
— Comrade Misty is Putin’s Buddy (@SarcasmStardust) May 27, 2025
just admit it was a hoax.
— FightOracle ™ (@fightoracle) May 28, 2025
It seems they left out this part in their statement:
On behalf of the WNBA we apologize to the Indiana Fever and their fans for these baseless, slanderous allegations.
— priestess (@priestess68) May 27, 2025
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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