The WNBA has issued a warning to fans following a surge in racist, misogynistic, and homophobic abuse directed at players.
Since the arrival of superstars such as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese in the 2024 WNBA Draft, the league has exploded in popularity, as evidenced by record numbers and game attendance. However, an unfortunate byproduct of the league’s rapid growth has been people who aren’t actually fans of women’s basketball getting involved and spewing hate at the league’s players, especially on social media.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has announced that the league is cracking down on hate speech and doing what’s necessary to protect its players. She emphasized that racism, misogyny, homophobia, harassment, and threats directed at players have no place in sport or anywhere else.
The issue has been particularly concerning for players like Aces star Chelsea Gray, who received hateful messages from a fan earlier in the season. The incident led to an investigation and the fan being fired from his job. Sky veteran Natasha Cloud has spoken out about the need for the league to take action, saying, "I think as one of the main faces of our league, too, it creates a dialogue that needs to be had. It puts pressure on Cathy, who we’ve been begging to step up for us in these spaces."
The league has committed to continuing to enhance security resources and will work with the players’ union to explore collaborations with organizations that share the values of the WNBA. This move marks the beginning of an ongoing dialogue between the league and its players aimed at addressing issues early through proactive communication and strengthening the league-union relationship.
The WNBA has made it clear that it won’t be tolerating hate speech any longer. Commissioner Engelbert says there’s more work to do, and the league needs to make sure it’s doing it. The WNBA is united in its commitment to building on this work together with the players’ union.
The league has scheduled a meeting with its players to discuss the importance of addressing issues early through proactive communication and strengthening the league-union relationship. The meeting is seen as a crucial step in addressing the growing issue of hate speech and harassment directed at WNBA players.
Source: Yahoo Sports