WNBA and union take up racist abuse aimed at players
The league and WNBPA said a Tuesday video meeting covered abusive messages, security resources and a closer working relationship.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
The WNBA and its players' union used a Tuesday video conference to address racist, hateful and abusive messages sent to players, the league and WNBPA said in a joint statement Wednesday.
The meeting covered several issues, according to the statement, with the online abuse problem landing in the middle of a season already marked by public complaints from players and league discipline connected to racially charged language.
A push for more protection
The WNBA and WNBPA said the conversation focused on dealing with problems sooner through proactive communication and a stronger relationship between the league and union.
The league also committed to improving security resources, according to the statement. The WNBA said it will work with the union on possible partnerships with organizations that share the league's values and support the same priorities.
The statement described Tuesday's discussion as the start of a continuing conversation, with both sides saying they are aligned on building on the work.
Player abuse has been a recurring issue for the league in recent years. Last season, the WNBA launched its “No Space for Hate” platform, a program that included AI tools intended to help track social media harassment and protect players online.
Recent incidents put issue in spotlight
Several episodes in the first half of the season have pushed the subject back to the front.
Last week, Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray posted a screenshot on Instagram of a message that used a racial slur against her. According to ESPN, Gray received the message after the Aces lost to the Indiana Fever on July 12.
“People act like we just make this s--- up,” Gray wrote in the post. “And the audacity to tell us as athletes to ‘shut up and dribble.’”
Two weeks before Gray's post, Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas said she had received death threats and racial slurs after a June 24 game against the Fever. Thomas was suspended one game after making contact with her fist to Caitlin Clark's throat during that matchup.
On June 30, Thomas said threats against players' lives and leaked addresses were part of the abuse players were facing. “It's really unacceptable,” she said. “It's something that needs to change in this league, and I'm just really sick and tired of it.”
Brondello suspension also loomed
The league also recently suspended Toronto Tempo coach Sandy Brondello for one game over what it called “an inappropriate comment” about Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese.
Brondello referred to Reese as a “protected species” while speaking to officials about a call after contact between Nyara Sabally and Reese. Sabally was injured on the play and was whistled for a foul.
According to ESPN, the expression is common in Australia, where Brondello is from. In American culture, wording that suggests a person is not human has a history of being used as a slur against Black people.
Brondello apologized online and contacted Dream general manager Dan Padover and Reese, according to ESPN. Reese accepted the apology and said she was grateful the league acted.
“There is no place for discrimination or hate in this league from anyone, from fans to coaches to players,” Reese said after the suspension was announced. She added that she was ready to move on and focus on basketball.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.