Alyssa Thomas and Stephanie White say social media hate speech against WNBA players must end

UNCASVILLE, Connecticut (AP) — Alyssa Thomas and Stephanie White said racist and homophobic comments toward WNBA players must stop.

The Connecticut Sun star and coach made his comments after his team swept the Indiana Fever in the first round of the playoffs on Wednesday night.

“I don't think I've ever experienced the kind of racist comments I've received from Indiana Fever fans in my 11-year career,” she said. “It's unacceptable and, quite frankly, there's no place for it. We've been professional throughout this whole thing, but I've never been abused like I was on social media, and there's no place for it.”

Thomas knows the game has grown this year and there are many new fans watching on TV and in the stands, but the All-Star forward doesn't want fans who are disrespectful to the players.

“Basketball is moving in a great direction, but we don't want fans who will humiliate us and call us racist names,” she said.

White defended her team and its players, but noted that this is a broader problem.

“We have experienced a lot of racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia in our country,” White said. “Sports is no exception, and to be honest, that is unacceptable.”

White, who played and coached in Indiana, praised her team and other franchises in the league for remaining professional and not letting criticism deter them.

“Many teams in our league and many athletes, not just in our league, are attacked in this way,” she said. “We continue to encourage them to silence the noise and control what they can control.”

Indiana coach Christie Sides also had to face criticism of her players on social media.

“There's a lot of hurtful, hateful language out there, and that's unacceptable,” she said. “This is basketball, and that's their job, and they're doing the best they can. And when it gets personal, to me there's no reason for it. These guys have to listen and watch – social media is their life. That's just what they do. And they have to read and see these things all the time, and just all the stories that are made up of what people see or think they see. It's just not acceptable when it gets personal.”

Shortly after Thomas and White's postgame comments, the WNBA released a statement on social media defending its players.

“The WNBA is a competitive league with some of the best athletes in the world,” the statement said. “While we welcome a growing fan base, the WNBA does not tolerate racist, derogatory or threatening comments about players, teams and individuals associated with the league.”

The statement added that the league would involve law enforcement if necessary.

WNBA players and their union spoke out against Commissioner Cathy Engelbert several weeks ago when she failed to condemn racist and bitter criticism from some fans of the rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese in a television interview. She later clarified that she vehemently rejects “hate or racism.”

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