Game 2 of the first round of the WNBA playoffs between the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces saw more than just Caitlin Clark and company keeping their season alive to force a win-or-go-home Game 3 on Thursday night.
Aces superstar A’ja Wilson received a technical foul after being involved in an altercation with a Fever fan along the baseline during the fourth quarter of Las Vegas’ 99-89 loss to Indiana. She confronted a spectator who was seen pointing at her after she got tangled up with Sophie Cunningham, leading to a foul call.
Wilson took exception to the fan pointing at her from the baseline, where he was seemingly telling her that the foul was on her – not Cunningham.
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Either way, Wilson was hit with the tech for leaving the floor, and the Fever later confirmed that the fan did not violate the code of conduct. He also wasn’t removed from the arena.
During his latest episode of “Don’t @ Me,” Dan Dakich had this to say about Wilson’s reaction to the fan.
“He went like that,” Dakich said, pointing his finger like the fan did, “and he took a step. Oh my God, the horror. Spike Lee would be kicked out of every NBA game. These little queens, their brains are broken.”
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Dakich went as far as to say that the spotlight has gotten too big for stars like Wilson, and Fever superstar Caitlin Clark has a hand to play in this situation.
“The spotlight is too big for the sisters. I’m sorry, it just is,” he said. “The spotlight’s too big. I mean, every game, everywhere, every place somebody goes like that. It’s just too big. And Caitlin Clark has broken African American women. That’s all that was about – Caitlin Clark was kicking their a–. And the other little white girls were kicking their a–. That’s 100% what it’s about. She got frustrated and the queen couldn’t handle it because, well, I don’t know why she couldn’t handle it.”
Wilson explained her side of the altercation after the game during a news conference.
“With the baseline situation, I don’t know if you guys know me, but I don’t really get into the bulls—. I don’t,” she explained. “I try to play my game and keep it pushing. But if I’m just walking because I got the foul and I’m chilling, and I see a man come at me, taking steps toward me and pointing at me, I don’t give a damn what you said. I don’t give a damn what you said with the tone. That is unacceptable. You don’t step toward me and point at me. I’m not for that s— at all.”
“Following a report of a comment directed toward a player, arena security spoke with the fan involved and witnesses. Security determined there was no violation of the Fan Code of Conduct, the fan was not removed from the arena. We consider the matter closed,” the Fever said in its statement.
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Aces head coach Becky Hammon also addressed the situation, admitting she only saw “the aftermath” of what went down.
” I’ve never seen her react like that. Whatever was done, she felt very disrespected in that moment. … Whatever it was, it doesn’t have any place in that arena,” Hammon said.
Regarding Wilson leaving the floor, Hammon added, “I guess you can’t leave the court,” when asked about the technical.
Two courtside fans voluntarily left Gainbridge Fieldhouse that night following a mid-game disruption during a highly anticipated matchup between the Aces and Fever. The incident occurred with 4:38 remaining in the third quarter. Aces guards Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young gestured toward officials and security personnel while pointing out attendees sitting in the front row.
Following an investigation, the Indiana Fever released a statement clarifying that arena security found no official violation of the WNBA Fan Code of Conduct. While the fans were not officially ejected or disciplined by the venue, they chose to leave the arena on their own accord.
The series now heads back to Las Vegas for a Thursday night showdown to determine who moves on in the WNBA playoffs. Wilson, who finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, will hope her Aces and stop Clark, who had 27 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds, at 9 p.m. ET.
OutKick’s Alejandro Avila and Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
