The WNBA’s Historic Run Overshadowed by Racism — a Tale as Old as Time

The WNBA has undoubtedly had a historical season with a dedicated yet largely new fan base breaking records in attendance, viewership, and interest. Most recently, the WNBA playoffs have been earning some of the highest viewership numbers ever seen in the league’s post-season games, per The New York Times. The attention has been exciting, but also unveiled some of the racism that continues to stain the game.

At a post-conference interview following Sept. 25’s first-round playoff game, where the Indiana Fever were defeated by Connecticut Sun, Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas expressed her sentiments about the racism and harassment that she and fellow players experience. She referenced many comments made on social media that exacerbate the issue. “In my 11-year career, I’ve never experienced the racial comments … I’ve never been called the things I’ve been called on social media, and there’s no place for it,” Thomas said, per ESPN. Thomas spoke candidly about the pain of those experiences and how the WNBA needed to do something to protect players; she also called out the Indiana Fever organization to check its fans.

Thomas’s comments prompted the WNBA to release a statement on Instagram stating that racism will not be tolerated — leading many commenters to ask what took the league so long, given the fact that the players have been dealing with and calling attention to the vile rhetoric received throughout the entire season.

Additionally, earlier this month the WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert came under fire when she was called out for not speaking out about the racism the players have experienced. When asked about the fan rhetoric becoming more racist, connecting it to what Angel Reese had been experiencing in the conversations about the Reese-Caitlin Clark rivalry, Engelbert’s response referred to it as “a little of that Bird-Magic moment.” She noted that “the one thing I know about sports, you need rivalry. That’s what makes people watch,” seemingly focusing on how athletic rivalries can benefit the league, as reports the Los Angeles Times. Following backlash, Engelbert issued a follow-up comment stating, “To be clear, there is absolutely no place for hate or racism of any kind in the WNBA or anywhere else.” But for many players, it felt too little too late. New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart said the commissioner’s words were “disappointing to hear,” according to AP News.

On Sept. 26 Reese, who had an amazing rookie season before it was cut short due to injury, expressed comments in support of Thomas and other players who are also experiencing the racism that she’s dealt with all season. “I’m sorry to all the players that have/continue to experience the same things I have,” Reese wrote on X. It’s well documented that Reese has received the most vile comments on the Internet, including death threats being made against her. “For the past 2 years, the media has benefited from my pain & me being villainized to create a narrative. They allowed this,” Reese shared, reflecting on how racism has been normalized within the league.

For a game that is experiencing historical growth, the events of this past season have been marred by the racist tropes and stereotypes that have been experienced by the players, and observed by the fans, coaches, and media who cover the WNBA. Considering over 70 percent of WNBA players are Black, ESPN reports, it will be important for the league to set a precedent and clear boundaries around what is acceptable fan behavior. The league must emphasize that critiques that go beyond a player’s basketball game, that attack their racial identity, are unacceptable and must be condemned, and there must be consequences for fans who perpetrate them. Racism shouldn’t be excused or tolerated to advance revenue and ticket sales.

The WNBA has been a champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts with a strong show of activism on social issues — but that was largely driven by the Black women who make up the largest demographic within the WNBA. The time is now for the entire league, from the commissioner and owners to the front office, to take a firm stand — to not only protect its players but also to preserve the future of its legacy. They must take actions such as instituting a dress policy in sporting arenas that bans clothing with racist language, ejecting racist fans who hurl racism, and doing more to moderate social media accounts, including banning offending users and cross-referencing their information with ticket-holders, just to name a few.

It’s also important for players who are not experiencing these attacks to speak up and speak out too, as often one’s silence can be mistaken for permissiveness or acceptance.

What Reese, Thomas, and other players have experienced is truly shameful and unacceptable. Racist, sexist, and discriminatory attacks have no place in women’s basketball, and certainly will not grow or advance the game into the future. But, just as with anything in America, until we confront our ugly past we cannot learn from it, change, and positively shape our future. The next generation is watching this unfold, and what’s not said or done will have an immeasurable impact on the evolving fan base and the future success of the game. So while the WNBA’s statement may have come up short and too late for many, let’s hope it’s not the last time the league and those who run it speak up to protect its players. Above all, the players deserve to play in a safe environment that champions women and the sport of basketball.

Ralinda Watts is an author, diversity expert, consultant, practitioner, speaker, and proven thought leader who works at the intersection of race, identity, culture, and justice. She has contributed to numerous publications such as PS, CBS Media, Medium, Yahoo Life, and the Los Angeles Times.