CHICAGO SKY
Chicago Sky

Sky vs. Fever got heated, now the WNBA is investigating alleged racial abuse towards Angel Reese

The Indiana Fever won their season opener against the Chicago Sky

Indiana Fever & the Chicago Sky opened their WNBA season on Sunday
Indiana Fever & the Chicago Sky opened their WNBA season on SundayLAPRESSE

The WNBA is reviewing allegations of racial comments directed at Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese during Saturday's game against the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The game, which saw the Fever dominate the Sky 93-58, was already intense following a flagrant foul committed by Indiana's Caitlin Clark on Reese in the third quarter.

Angel Reese nearly hits Caitlin Clark after hard foul in viral courtside moment

Was Angel Reese targeted with racial comments?

As Reese approached the free-throw line after the foul, she was met with boos from the sellout crowd.

Game Recap: Sky vs. Fever (5/17/25)

While this kind of reception is not uncommon in high-stakes rivalries, claims have since surfaced that the jeers included racially charged remarks.

The league has since confirmed it is investigating the incident.

"The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms - they have no place in our league or society," the league said in a statement.

"We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter."

The reported comments are believed to have come from individuals in the crowd during or after the altercation between Clark and Reese.

The foul itself, which led to Clark being assessed a flagrant one, briefly ignited tensions on the court, but cooler heads prevailed as teammates stepped in.

Reese and Indiana's Aliyah Boston received technical fouls amid the heated moment.

The WNBA Players Association voiced its for the investigation, emphasizing that such conduct is not acceptable.

"Such behavior is unacceptable in our sport," the WNBPA said.

"Under the WNBA's 'No Space for Hate' policy, we trust the league to thoroughly investigate and take swift, appropriate action to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all."

This isn't the first time Indiana's home crowd has come under scrutiny.

Former Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas, now with the Mercury, made similar claims during last year's playoffs, calling out Fever fans for racially charged comments.

Despite the final score, the Reese-Clark rivalry continues to fuel fan engagement.

While Clark led the Fever with a triple-double performance, Reese remains a force, posting historic stats early in her WNBA career.

The Sky will look for redemption when they face Indiana again on June 7 at the United Center.

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