Michael Voepel
The WNBA announced on Tuesday that it could not support a behavior report of racist fans in an Indiana-Chicago match in Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis earlier this month.
“We investigated the behavior report of racist fans near the court during May 17, 2025, Chicago Sky has Indiana fever Game, “said the league in a statement.” Based on the information collected to date, including fans concerned, the team and the arena staff, as well as the game and video review of the game, we have not confirmed it.
“The WNBA is committed to promoting a safe and inclusive environment for everyone and will continue to be vigilant in the application of our code of fans.”
Fans’ behavior would have taken place after Caitlin Clark CHICAGO FLOW Angel Reese In the third quarter of the opening of the team season. Reese opposed the fault, which was then upgraded to a flagrant 1. Reese and Indiana Aliyah Boston The technical faults were evaluated after Reese went to face Clark and Boston intervened to keep the players separate.
After the match, Reese and Clark – who met for the seventh time of their current rivalry and very spoke of the rivalry – minimized the incident between them.
“Basketball plays,” said Reese. “The referees have understood. Continue.”
No team mentioned or alluded to any remark of fans in post-match press conferences after the 93-58 victory of Indiana. But it has become a subject on social networks and the WNBA announced that it would investigate. The players of the two teams later declared that they had supported the investigation and the efforts of the League to be vigilant about the behavior of the fans.
“There is no room for that in our game, there is no room for that in society,” Clark told journalists on May 19. “Admittedly, we want each person who enters our arena – be it a player or a fan – has a great experience. I appreciate the League to do this (investigation). I appreciate that the organization of fever was at the forefront.”
The two teams had published statements in support of the investigation, as is the WNBA Players Union.
“We appreciate the rapid and in -depth process undertaken by the WNBA to investigate these allegations, which were not supported,” the fever on Tuesday in a statement. “At Gainbridge Fieldhouse, we are committed to offering the best possible basketball experience to players and fans where hatred speech has absolutely no room.”
The Sky also published a statement on Tuesday, claiming that they appreciated the “rapid measures” taken by the League and the fever to investigate the issue.
“This process demonstrates the solid position of the league on stopping hatred to all the games and events of the WNBA and we will continue to support these efforts,” the statement said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
