Jeffrey Becker

Fever Face Backlash Over Caitlin Clark's Statement on Angel Reese Allegations

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nathan Dougherty | Last updated May 19, 2025 10:44 PM ET

The Indiana Fever got a big start to the season with a blowout win over the Chicago Sky and a triple-double from Caitlin Clark, but the game was marred by what the WNBA called "hateful fan comments" directed toward Angel Reese.

The league initiated an investigation and the Fever offered a statement supporting it, with Clark later addressing the situation. Speaking to reporters after practice on Monday, Clark said she didn't hear anything said toward Reese but didn't discount that it happened.

The Fever star said she supported the league's investigation and had faith they would take the proper actions.

"Although I didn’t hear anything…that doesn’t mean nothing happened, so you just trust the league’s investigation and I’m sure they’ll do the right thing," Clark said.

Caitlin Clark, asked if she heard any hateful fan comments during Saturday’s #Fever-#Sky game:

“Although I didn’t hear anything … that doesn’t mean nothing happened, so you just trust the league’s investigation and I’m sure they’ll do the right thing.” | @TheAthleticWBB pic.twitter.com/F3wQPb9tF8
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) May 19, 2025

Many fans pushed back against the Fever for having Clark address the allegations instead of the response coming directly from the team. Some thought it was unfair to Clark.

"Please don’t put the mic to her face only, if negative things are being said or occurring, the entire team should be speaking," one fan shared in a post on X. "Before the game the entire teams on both sides, take the mic and let the fans know that it will not be tolerated."

"Stop talking to Clark about what some fan might of said to Reese. What the heck does she have to do with it," another wrote.

"She’s not responsible for when fans allegedly said or didn’t says," another fan shared in a post on X.

While it is not clear if the Fever pressed Clark into making the statement, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year has often addressed hateful comments on her own. After her team was eliminated from the playoffs last year, Clark lamented that some of her opponents were subject to racist abuse.

"It’s definitely upsetting," Clark said in a video shared by The Athletic's James Boyd. "Nobody in our league should be facing any sort of racism, hurtful, disrespectful, hateful comments and threats."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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