The WNBA’s investigation into alleged racist fan behavior during the season opener between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever did not turn up evidence of any hateful comments. The league is now hoping to move past the incident involving two of the game’s biggest stars.
What led to the WNBA investigation?
The incident allegedly took place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis after a hard foul given by Fever guard Caitlin Clark against Sky forward Angel Reese. Officials gave Clark a flagrant foul for the infraction, and teammates had to separate the players from each other. After the game, Reese brushed off the altercation, calling it a basketball play and saying the referees got it right, telling the media to move on.
But the WNBA launched an investigation the next day after allegations of hateful comments from fans directed at Reese became public. Those allegations went viral on social media, sparking a debate about their veracity. On Tuesday, May 27, the league released a statement saying they found no evidence of those comments.
The following has been released by the WNBA. pic.twitter.com/rFlKQAHmzQ
— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) May 27, 2025
“We have investigated the report of racist fan behavior in the vicinity of the court during the May 17, 2025, Chicago Sky at Indiana Fever game,” the league said. “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.”
When did the rivalry between Reese and Clark begin?
The rivalry between Clark and Reese started during their college days, with each player’s team earning an NCAA tournament win. The issue has gained even more traction in the WNBA, although both players have downplayed it. Both Reese and Clark, however, welcomed the investigation. Clark reacted to the alleged comments after a practice on May 19.
“There’s no place for that in our game, there’s no place for that in society,” Clark said. “Certainly, we want every person who comes into our arena, whether player or fan, to have a great experience. I appreciate the league doing that (an investigation). I appreciate that the Fever organization has been at the forefront of that since day one.”
Both teams released statements Tuesday, thanking the league for its quick response to the allegations. The Fever organization says they are looking forward to the remainder of the season.
“We appreciate the swift and thorough process undertaken by the WNBA to investigate these allegations, which were not substantiated,” the team statement said. “At Gainbridge Fieldhouse, we are committed to providing the best possible basketball experience for players and fans where hate speech has absolutely no place.”
What was Angel Reese’s reaction to the investigation?
Reese has avoided discussing the allegations, even after reporters asked her multiple times over the past two weeks whether she shared any details with the league. She has not detailed the comments that were made, nor did she tell reporters if she had informed investigators about what was said. However, she did thank the fans for their support after Sunday’s game.
“Being able to feel the love everywhere we go is always great,” Reese said. “I think it helps us keep our intensity up and we feed off that energy. Just being able to stay locked in and focused and kind of ignoring the outside but also hearing the claps and the encouragement, because I know a lot of people do believe in us.”
Both the Fever and Sky currently have problems on the court. Indiana will be without Clark for at least the next two weeks after the star suffered a quad injury in Saturday’s loss to the New York Liberty. They have started the season with a 2-2 record.
The Sky are still looking for their first win of the season. They’ve lost all four of their games but Reese leads the league in rebounding, pulling in an average of 14 per game. The two teams will play their second meeting of the season on June 7, in Chicago, a rematch Clark will miss due to her injury.
