A man accused of sending a racist text message to Los Angeles Sparks player Dearica Hamby has reportedly been fired from his job. Acclaro Medical, a medical device company based in Rhode Island, confirmed that the employee is no longer with the company.
The incident came to light after Hamby shared a screenshot of the alleged text message on social media. The message, which contained a racial slur and monkey emoji, was sent to Hamby after she was ejected from a WNBA game on August 22 for throwing an elbow. Hamby indicated the action was in retaliation for an earlier hit from Connecticut Sun forward Raegan Beers.
The sender was reportedly identified by social media users who traced the phone number from the screenshot. Acclaro Medical had initially suspended the employee pending an investigation.
In a statement, the company said it "condemns racism, harassment, hate speech and discriminating behavior in all forms" and that the remarks "do not in any way reflect the values and standards of the Company."
The WNBA also issued a statement condemning the abuse and vowing to take action. "We are committed to holding anyone who engages in such abhorrent behavior accountable, and this individual will be permanently banned from all league games and events," the league stated.
Hamby's post, which garnered millions of views, highlighted a broader issue of online abuse directed at WNBA players. Earlier in the season, Phoenix Mercury player Alyssa Thomas, who is Black, received death threats and racial slurs after a play involving Caitlin Clark. Thomas's wife and children were also targeted. Clark publicly disavowed the hate directed at Thomas, stating, "the harassment, the hate, none of that is okay."
Las Vegas Aces player Chelsea Gray also experienced racial abuse from some of Clark's fans after a play where she made contact with Clark. Gray shared some of the direct messages she received, noting the audacity of some individuals who told athletes to "shut up and dribble."