The WNBA has, once again, managed to entangle itself in controversy not because of action on the court, but because of unsubstantiated claims off it — claims that, despite a full-scale investigation, turned up nothing but smoke and speculation. This time, the league investigated allegations made by Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, who suggested that fans hurled racist slurs at her during a May matchup against Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever.
The league’s conclusion? There’s no evidence to support it. None.
Angel Reese may be the most petty, insufferable athlete in sports right now…
Her jealously for Caitlin Clark has made her act a fool on and off the court.
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) May 17, 2025
The controversy began after the Fever dominated the Sky in a game where Clark’s rising star shined and Reese, notably frustrated, delivered one of her rougher outings. Instead of chalking it up to a bad night and moving on, Reese alleged after the game that racist comments had been made by fans in the stands. Yet, when asked to provide specifics, she offered none. No quotes, no descriptions, not even confirmation that she had provided the WNBA with any actionable details. Instead, she deflected: “That’s not a me question.”
Except—it absolutely is.
She was the source of the allegation. And when a professional athlete levels an accusation as serious as racism from paying fans, it requires either follow-through or accountability. Reese offered neither.
Rather than treating the allegation with the kind of healthy skepticism warranted by its complete lack of substance, the WNBA did what it so often does: it launched a full investigation. They interviewed arena staff, reviewed audio and video from the game, and even spoke to fans. The result? Nothing to substantiate the claim.
This Caitlin Clark snatching the ball from Angel Reese clip after 2 missed layups gonna be generational pic.twitter.com/vyIXhMBCS4
— John (@iam_johnw) May 17, 2025
This isn’t the first time Angel Reese has made this kind of accusation. And it’s not the first time it’s fizzled out under scrutiny. Yet the WNBA appears uninterested in course-correcting. Rather than issuing a statement urging responsibility and honesty from its players, it thanked everyone for their cooperation and patted itself on the back for taking racism “seriously.”
Let’s be clear: racism, when it exists, should be taken seriously. But when serious claims are made without evidence, and investigations confirm as much, the league has a responsibility to draw a line — not indulge in endless virtue-signaling that insults its dwindling fan base’s intelligence.
It’s no secret that the WNBA owes much of its current relevance to Caitlin Clark. She’s a generational talent, and her arrival has injected excitement, ratings, and money into a league that has never been financially sustainable on its own. But instead of leaning into that momentum with professionalism and a fan-first approach, the league seems bent on alienating newcomers by bending over backward to validate every grievance from its more controversial figures.
The following has been released by the WNBA. pic.twitter.com/rFlKQAHmzQ
— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) May 27, 2025
Rather than protecting fans from false accusations or focusing on game quality and competitiveness, the WNBA is getting sidetracked — again — by noise. That’s not a long-term growth strategy. It’s a cultural cul-de-sac.
