ESPN Analyst Is Heartbroken By Racism Infiltrating The WNBA
The WNBA's rise has unfortunately attracted racist fans exploiting the league's popularity to promote hate.
On Wednesday night, the Connecticut Sun advanced to the postseason's record round with an 87-81 victory over the Indiana Fever. In her post-game press conference, Sun forward Alyssa Thomas discussed the verbal abuse she and her teammates received from Fever supporters throughout the two-game series. The 32-year-old said "something needs to be done" to address the rise in hate speech and personal attacks.
"I think in my 11-year career, I've never experienced the racial comments from the Indiana Fever fanbase ... It's unacceptable, honestly, and there’s no place for it," Thomas said. "We’ve been professional throughout the whole entire thing, but I’ve never been called the things that I’ve been called on social media, and there’s no place for it."
ESPN analyst Andraya Carter discussed the WNBA's current situation on SportsCenter.
"It's sad," Carter said, via Awful Announcing. "It's sad that on an evening where we've had great performances … this is the topic that we have to end on. And what stood out to me about what Alyssa Thomas said was basketball is heading in a great direction. And then there's a pause. Because, again, it’s heartbreaking that in a time where our league is so exciting -- the excitement around the league is at its highest, but the racial slurs and the derogatory comments and the online bullying are also at their worst."
LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 8: Andraya Carter reports during the game between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces during Game 1 of the 2023 WNBA Finals on October 8, 2023 at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty Images)
Carter welcomed the game's uptick in attention but pleaded for that excitement to be "based on basketball." Those hateful fans directly oppose everything most of the WNBA's players stand for.
"It's also a league that thrives on women that truly take pride in inclusivity, in diversity, and welcoming others and protecting marginalized groups," she continued. "And so there's no room for racism. There's no room for bullying. There's no room for derogatory comments."
From talking to players and coaches and noting her own experiences, Carter has heard similar accounts to what Thomas described. The former Tennessee player said hate and racism around the WNBA is "higher than ever."
Carter added that there's "no space" for racist fans, even if it means deaccelerating the league's rapid ascent.
"As much as we want this league to grow, we will grow slower if it means leaving those fans out of the mix."
