Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray shared a screenshot of an alleged racist direct message she received on Instagram after her team's significant loss to Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. The screenshot included what appeared to be a racial slur against Gray, along with the sender's profile name and photo.
Gray posted the image with a caption criticizing those who dismiss athletes' experiences with online abuse. "People act like we just make this s--- up. And the audacity to tell us as athletes to 'shut up and dribble,'" Gray wrote.
The Indiana Fever defeated the Aces 109-75. Clark contributed 12 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in the game, as she continues to reintegrate into the full-time role following a back injury on June 24.
This incident follows heightened tensions within the WNBA, exacerbated by a previous on-court incident where Caitlin Clark was struck in the throat by Phoenix Mercury player Alyssa Thomas during a game on June 24. Following that incident, Thomas stated that she and her teammates had also received threats and racial insults.
The discourse surrounding Clark's prominence in the league has reignited discussions about race. Earlier in July, 11 Republican lawmakers sent a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, expressing concerns about the "physical hostility" and "violence" Clark has faced, suggesting it might be "racially motivated." The letter also criticized the league's officiating for failing to hold players accountable for incidents that go beyond routine physical play.
Engelbert reportedly canceled an interview on "The Dan Patrick Show" late last week, which host Dan Patrick attributed to guidance from the league's public relations team.