Over the course of the WNBA season, many gamers throughout the league have handled vitriol and hatred inside arenas and on social media. On Friday, Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark put the “trolls” on blast, denouncing their ridiculous habits.
Clark, who introduced a brand new fanbase into the WNBA, has been the focus throughout the league this season. She had a outstanding rookie marketing campaign, however lots of her “followers” had been additionally spewing hatred all year long.
When requested concerning the state of affairs on Friday, Clark offering a strongly-worded response.
“It is undoubtedly upsetting,” Clark stated in a video posted by James Boyd of The Athletic. “No person in our league must be going through any form of racism, hurtful, disrespectful, hateful feedback and threats. These aren’t followers, these are trolls. It is an actual disservice to the folks in our league, the group, the WNBA.
I requested #IndianaFever star Caitlin Clark concerning the racism and different hate #WNBA gamers have endured this season:
“No person in our league must be going through any form of racism, hurtful, disrespectful, hateful feedback and threats. These aren’t followers. These are trolls. …” pic.twitter.com/3rgABBFMRZ
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) September 27, 2024
The query to Clark comes a number of days after Connecticut Solar ahead Alyssa Thomas called out Indiana Fever followers for being the worst within the league. She detailed a number of the hatred she heard contained in the arenas all through the 2024 WNBA season.
“Actually, it has been lots of nonsense. I feel in my 11-year profession, I’ve by no means skilled the racial feedback from the Indiana Fever fanbase,” Thomas said. “It is unacceptable, truthfully. There is not any place for it.
“We have been skilled all through the entire whole factor. I’ve by no means been known as the issues that I have been known as on social media. There is not any place for it. Basketball is heading in an incredible route, however we do not need followers which are going to degrade us and name us racial names.”
Though there was lots of negativity within the league this season, there have been lots of followers celebrating and supporting the WNBA the fitting approach. Clark wished to verify these people received a point out.
“There are lots of actually good followers. Whether or not they’ve been followers for 20-plus years or whether or not they’re new followers in our league. I feel persevering with to uplift this league in a really constructive mild is one of the best factor we will do,” Clark stated.
“There are such a lot of nice gamers, there are such a lot of nice groups, there are such a lot of constructive storylines that may be celebrated and written. For me, that is why I grew to become a fan of this league. These folks had been my idols. I grew up desirous to be like them.”
