The WNBA in a statement on Tuesday announced that it found no evidence of “racist fan behavior” directed at Angel Reese when she and the Chicago Sky played against the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis on May 17.
Per CNN, the WNBA initially said it was going to launch an investigation after it was alleged that Reese, 23, was the target of “hateful fan comments” when the Sky played against the Fever.
“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 WNBA said in the statement. “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.”
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The WNBA also said it is “committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for everyone and will continue to be vigilant in enforcing our fan code of conduct.”
Responding to the outcome of the investigation on Tuesday, the Sky expressed its gratitude to both the WNBA and the Fever for how they attended to the matter.
“We appreciate the quick action by the league and the Indiana Fever to take this matter seriously and to investigate,” Chicago Sky CEO and President Adam Fox said. “This process demonstrates the league’s strong stance on stopping hate at all WNBA games and events, and we will continue to support those efforts.”
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Mel Raines, CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, the company that owns the Fever, similarly thanked the WNBA for the “swift and thorough process” the league undertook to “investigate these allegations, which were not substantiated.”
“At Gainbridge Fieldhouse, we are committed to providing the best possible basketball experience for players and fans where hate speech has absolutely no place. Indiana is home to the world’s greatest fans, and we look forward to an exciting season of Fever basketball,” she added.
Tuesday’s announcement by the WNBA came a week after Reese and the Indiana Fever’s star point guard Caitlin Clark addressed the allegations.
“I think the WNBA and our team and our organization has done a great job supporting me,” Reese told reporters a week ago, per CNN. “I’ve gone through so many different things in the past couple of years in my life, but I think just having the support and this love, and being a part of an organization that really supports me and loves me is something I just couldn’t imagine not being a part of.”
“There’s no place for that in our game, there’s no place for that in society,” Clark also said on May 19. “Certainly, we want every person who comes into our arena, whether player or fan, to have a great experience,” the 23-year-old added. “I appreciate the league doing that (the investigation). I appreciate that the Fever organization has been at the forefront of that since day one.”
Prior to being drafted into the WNBA, Reese and Clark had already made a name for themselves during their playing days in college. And though there have been reports about a rivalry between the pair, the WNBA stars have publicly said that is not true.
Reese has also previously said that though she has been portrayed as the “villain”, she and Clark “don’t hate each other” and are just “super competitive” when playing, per CNN.
READ ALSO: Angel Reese hopes she and Caitlin Clark can be WNBA teammates
