There’s a glaring problem in the WNBA. From media, to the players, and the league’s dedicated fan base full of left-wing political activists, far too many people have been unfairly characterizing Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark fans. Since Clark’s rookie season, the claims of racism have been leveled at an astounding rate. My conversations with Las Vegas Aces’ fans proved just how hostile and unfair, to say the least, that rhetoric has become.
When controversies arise in the WNBA, and across sports in general, I want to do my due diligence by asking fans what they think in person. I want to hear the thoughts and opinions from people who are invested and aware in what is going on, whether they are left, right, or center. I’ve done that at the Sophie Cunningham rallies and protests outside arenas across the country. I’ve interviewed fans in the aftermath of flagrant fouls on Caitlin Clark and Cunningham. I’ve covered a lot of the issues the league has faced and brought upon themselves.
As you know, the WNBA is no stranger to controversies. It’s engrained in the fabric of the league. So when A’ja Wilson walked over 20 feet away into the seating area during Game 2 to confront a fan in Indiana for simply pointing at her from the second row of the baseline courtside seats, I wanted to hear fans thoughts about it. I wanted their thoughts on the WNBA refusing to reprimand the league’s MVP or have Wilson face any repercussions whatsoever for her actions. Those questions triggered some insane accusations from Aces fans regarding the Fever fan and their fanbase.
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About an hour before gametime, I spoke with a female Aces fan, who said, “I think it (the A’ja Wilson incident) is bigger than that moment. I think it’s more about racism and the concerns regarding the Fever fans being racist.”
That’s the way this incident was framed from the beginning, unfortunately. It was a Black athlete confronting a White fan, so people jumped at the idea there must have been a slur thrown in Wilson’s direction. That was obviously not the case.
She then continued by disagreeing with A’ja Wilson’s actions, but justified them due to claims of racism: “She was out of line to approach a fan like that, but by the same token, racism in our country is also out of line.”
When I asked if she thought the fan was racist she responded, “No. Not at all.” I was now a little confused, so I asked if she was claiming the fan wasn’t racist, but that race played a factor in A’ja Wilson losing her cool. “I do,” she said definitively. “I think as a Black athlete, in a state where there’s a history of racism, and where this team has been accused of having racist fans,” she continued before I cut her off to ask if there’s validity to those claims.
“I think there’s validity to racism,” she responded. “Well, of course, but [I’m asking about] Indiana Fever fans,” I responded.
“No, I can’t say that,” she humbly responded, realizing she was assigning labels to a fanbase without proper proof.
The conversation went on for another minute or so where I respectfully pressed her on her characterization of the Fever fan base and how they’ve been labeled as racists, bigots, you name it. I even mentioned that Wilson even stated in the postgame interview that her actions weren’t because of anything he said, but the fact that a man pointed at her. If anything, she was claiming some form of misogyny. The fan still speculated that race could’ve played a part in Wilson’s thinking, leading her to lose her cool.
In another conversation, an Aces fan unashamedly said that she believes Indiana Fever fans are “racist.”
She claimed, “It’s (Gainbridge Fieldhouse) a hard place and the way they treat us up there. I’ve sat there and watched games and watched them yell slurs.”
When I asked her if she believed a slur was said by the fan towards Wilson, knowing good and well that no slur was stated because both I and Pat McAfee Show personality, Boston Connor, who was seated by the fan, have confirmed the fan simply said, “It (the foul) is on you,” she responded by saying, “It’s kinda hard to say. He did something to provoke her because that’s not A’ja and that’s not her demeanor.”
This is where I let her know that multiple sources have confirmed nothing racial was said to Wilson. “But then, the way he came [at her], he left his seat, he left his area, and he stepped towards her,” she responded trying to find a way to justify Wilson’s unsportsmanlike actions, though she was just proven to be ignorant about the facts.
She continued by saying the Fever fan was “provoking” Wilson and seemingly questioned his intentions as a threat to Wilson’s safety.
Here’s where things went completely off the rails.
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She then claimed the WNBA made the right decision to not eject, fine, or suspend Wilson, because Indiana Fever fans are “racists.” I’m not kidding. This was actually her argument.
“If you’ve never been to Cambridge Fieldhouse and seen the demeanor of the Indiana Fever fans,” she mistakenly said while referring to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. “If we did half of what they did up there, the WNBA would be fining the Aces.” So now was the time to get the clarification we are all looking for.
I asked, “Do you believe Indiana Fever fans are racist?”
She responded with a resounding, “Yes! By all means! By all means! By all means! Yes, they are racists.”
So here is the problem. Fans like this, making outlandish claims that aren’t based in facts or reality, are what is wrong with the WNBA. They spew unfounded talking points about Fever fans. It’s been that way since Clark entered the league three seasons ago. The millions of people who have flocked to the league because of Caitlin Clark, helping players like A’ja Wilson sign million dollar contracts, assisted in teams now flying private, and who may be the fans who help make the league profitable for the first time in the league’s 30-year history, are labeled as the scum of the earth. They might as well be considered the KKK of WNBA fanbases. An insane, divisive, unfair label that echoes the claims of even A’ja Wilson’s mom, who paraded around the arena with a “Love Beats Hate” sign following the Aces’ Game 3 win.
Also, these accusations and rhetoric only devalues legitimate racism. There is still racism in America, and it’s not just White people discriminating against Blacks, but we have to stop making claims like this, if they can’t be substantiated. All you’re doing is insulting your paying customers and fellow fans in the most vile way.
