WNBA Inquiry: Angel Reese Game and Caitlin Clark Fallout

Update: 5/28/25 at 10:54 AM ET – The WNBA completed his investigation into alleged racist comments made in the Sky Indiana Fever vs Chicago game on May 17 and was unable to confirm the allegations.

“We have investigated the report of racial fan behavior in the vicinity of the court during May 17, 2025 Sky Chicago in the Indiana fever game,” said the League in A statement On Tuesday, May 27.

“Based on information gathered to date, including from relevant fans, team staff and arena, as well as an audio and video review of the game, we have not tested it,” continued the statement. “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.”

Original story below.

The WNBA is investigating allegations of “hateful fan comments” made during the Sky Vs Indiana fever game that opens the season in Indianapolis on Saturday, May 17. The particular player league did not call out, but the alleged comments are believed to have been directed towards the second year Sky Star Reese Angel.

“The WNBA condemns racism, hate and discrimination strongly in all forms – they have no place in our league or society. We are aware of the allegations and look into the matter,” said the league in statement On Sunday, May 18.

The game, which won the 93-58 fever, was one of the most anticipated early season matchups on the schedule, with Reese, 23, facing against it Caitlin Clark. As both Rookie class stars 2024 And former opponents in the NCAA 2023 Championship game, their growing competition has become one of the most exciting story lines in the WNBA.

Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about the WNBA investigation and the rest of the fall of the air fever game.

The key players

Clark, 23, is a point guard for Indiana fever selected No. 1 generally in the draft 2024 wnba draft. Reese, 23, is a forward to Chicago air selected 7th generally in the 2024 wnba nraft. Both players in the Girls’ Championship game 2023 NCAA, where LSU Reese Tigers Beat Iowa Hawkeyes by Clark 102-85.Clark and Reese both humiliated their detected competition, saying that there is no hostility between them.

“I am not Caitlin Clark hating each other,” said Reese last season. “I want everyone to understand that. It’s just a very competitive game.”

Clark also addressed their competition during her NCAA 2023 tournament run with the Iowa Hawkeyes, saying she and Reese “have always been great competitors.”

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“Obviously she played in the big ten for a while to start her career, and that’s what makes women’s ballad so fun that you have a great competition, and that’s what we’ve had all year,” she added.

Only natural, however, fans would produce competition between the two. Reese now made her famous gesture “failed to see me” in Clark during the final seconds of his LSU Tigers Championship game win over Iowa, adding fuel only to the fire.

When they both entered the Wnba, they quickly emerged as the two best rookies in the league and were part of a competitive rookie race the year before Clark accused ahead of the late season and Reese suffered injury that ended in the season.

The chest

We do not know exactly what the WNBA was said, but the incident came during a game where Clark and Reese had a short rebellion.

In a rare show of tension between the two, Clark received a leading FAW 1 in the third quarter. Reese had secured an offensive rebound before Clark slapped at the ball and hit her to the ground when he got a clean look on the basket. When Reese got up, she seemed to try to face Clark before all players stepped in.

The players themselves say they did not hear the comments, but the media and fans alike noted that they heard a racist insult referred to Reese.

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Why it is a big deal

After last year’s multiple events of players reporting racial or threatening treatment from fans, the WNBA launched its no space for hatred campaign at the start of the 2025 season.

In one case, Dijons CarringtonThen from the Connecticut Sun, Clark inadvertently picked up in the eye during the 2024 game. Even after the two players acknowledged it was an accident, Carrington, 27, said she received death threats, assault threats and racist comments from fans.

Reese also claimed that last season’s fans had either followed her home or shown in her house to threaten her. He also said that fans use AI to share fake naked pictures of it on social media.

The WNBA pours out its “No Hate” campaign as “a multi-dimensional platform designed to combat hatred and promote respect across all wnba-online discourse space to behavior in the arena.”

“We believe that a balletball can be a merger force – a place where people from all backgrounds come together not only to watch a game, but to get in touch,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement last week. “We want our arenas, and our social platforms filled with energy and vandomy – not hatred and vitric.”

What do people say

Clark met with the media on Tuesday, May 20, before the fever faced Atlanta’s dream and expressed her support for the WNBA investigation.

“There is no room for that in our game, there is no place for that in society,” he said. “Certainly, we want everyone who comes into our arena – whether player or fan – have a great experience. I appreciate the league doing that (investigation). I appreciate that the fever organization has been at the forefront of that.”

Reese also spoke, crediting the WNBA about stepping in.

“Obviously, there is no place in this league for that,” he said after a rehearsal on Tuesday. “I think the WNBA and our team and organization have done a great job supporting me. I’ve had communication from everyone, from so many people across this league.

“Going through this process, obviously if it could happen to me, it could happen to anyone,” he added. “I think they have done a great job supporting us in this.”

Aliyah BostonThe fever player who stepped between Reese and Clark during their scuffle, told reporters “Any kind of hatred is not welcome here.”

“We, as athletes, have to make sure that fans know that it is right to be passionate, to cheer up,” he said. “But at the end of the day, it’s about respect. If he was a girl out on the court, you would want that respect to be shown. That must be the mindset for every fan when they step into an arena.”

What’s next

Both teams have expressed their support for the ongoing investigation. When it ends, it will be on the league and fever to decide what – if any – should take them against the fan or fans involved.

The fever and the sky will meet again on June 7 in Chicago. The air will make two other trips to Indianapolis, facing Indiana on the August 9 and September 5 road.