ESPN’s Andraya Carter expressed sadness as the WNBA is forced to actively monitor “threat-related activity” being directed at players during the playoffs.
Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever were eliminated by the Connecticut Sun Wednesday night, losing 87-81 in Game 2 of the WNBA playoffs. Unfortunately, the game has been overshadowed by the actions of some fans, with Connecticut forward Alyssa Thomas issuing a strong statement to reporters.
“It’s heartbreaking that … the excitement around the league is at its highest, but the racial slurs and the derogatory comments and the online bullying are also at their worst.”
ESPN’s Andraya Carter says there is “no space” for WNBA fans who dish hate: pic.twitter.com/5ggjUdk4Dk
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“I think in my 11-year career, I’ve never experienced the racial comments from the Indiana Fever fanbase,” Thomas said during her postgame press conference. “It’s unacceptable, honestly, and there’s no place for it. We’ve been professional throughout the whole entire thing, but I’ve never been called the things that I’ve been called on social media, and there’s no place for it. Basketball is headed in a great direction, but we don’t want fans that are going to degrade us and call us racial things.
“We already see what’s happening in the world and what we have to deal with in that aspect. We come to play basketball for our job, and it’s fun, but we don’t want to go to work every day and have social media blown up over things like that. It’s uncalled for and something needs to be done, whether it’s them checking their fans or the league, there’s no time for it anymore.”
Following Thomas’s postgame comments, ESPN’s Andraya Carter offered a strong reaction on SportsCenter, stating there is “no space” in the WNBA for fans spreading hate.
“It’s sad,” Carter said. “It’s sad that on an evening where we’ve had great performances…and this is the topic that we have to end on. And what stood out to me about what Alyssa Thomas said was basketball is heading in a great direction. And then there’s a pause. Because, again, it’s heartbreaking that in a time where our league is so excited, the excitement around the league is at its highest, but the racial slurs and the derogatory comments and the online bullying are also at their worst.”
“It is prevalent,” Carter admitted of the hate and bullying. “With multiple [people] that I’ve talked to, it’s similar to what Alyssa Thomas said in that it’s higher than ever. I’ve talked to coaches, I’ve talked to players, I’ve experienced a little of it myself to a very small degree, where comments are being made that are completely unrelated to basketball. Personal comments, racial comments.”
While WNBA players have been socially conscious for decades, the league and its commissioner Cathy Engelbert have been slow to react in the wake of the culture wars that WNBA players have been dragged into this season. The WNBA, however, did finally react Wednesday night after Thomas’s comments, issuing a statement condemning racist and derogatory language, while noting “league security is actively monitoring threat-related activity.”
About Brandon Contes
Brandon Contes is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He previously helped carve the sports vertical for Mediaite and spent more than three years with Barrett Sports Media. Send tips/comments/complaints to bcontes@thecomeback.com