WNBA’s Fan Code of Conduct: “Guests will enjoy the basketball experience free from disruptive behavior, including foul or abusive language and obscene gestures.”

Entering the TD Garden for WNBA’s second game ever, the Connecticut Sun and the Indiana Fever and their fan bases were already on fire. Why not? It would be the next chapter of how their previous matchup ended– with three player ejections. Certainly, the heat came. However, much more than on the hardwood, it was in the stands. Let’s just say, while no player was physically harmed in the incident, an ejection did occur. 

With 6:46 to half time, Fever’s HC Stephanie White challenged a call where Sun’s rookie Saniya Rivers pushed Kelsey Mitchell to the floor. However, the call stood as the referee claimed Fever’s guard made contact first and the whistle was on that play. While Indiana’s fans were not thrilled about it, the game continued with Rivers going to the sidelines to inbound a ball. However, before the game could re-start, there was another delay.

All the camera showed was a fan in Clark’s No. 22 t-shirt being escorted out by the security after the Sun rookie gestured something to the referee and her team. Play-by-play broadcaster Pam Ward announced, “Another delay. A fan is being escorted out of the building. A fan that was close to the Sun bench. So that was the reason for that delay.” Initially, it was thought that the man touched Rivers. But the clarity came with Hearst’s Maggie Vanoni’s update:

“Connecticut Sun PR confirm the fan inside TD Garden did NOT touch Saniya Rivers. He said something inappropriate and Rivers called it out and brought it to the attention of team staff and arena security.”

The security identified the Fever fan’s actions as eligible for ejection and as per the new rules following the No Space for Hate campaign, the correct measures were taken. Interestingly, even the fans surrounding him did not like what he had done and booed and waved at him as he made his way up the staircase. 

After the game, Hartford Courant’s Emily Adams also shared Rivers’ words through her tweet. It read, “Update via Saniya Rivers: The ejected fan did NOT touch her, he made a comment that warranted ejection. Rivers was in great spirits about it, joked that he wasted all that money on a seat just to get tossed.”

However, this is not an isolated incident of fan interaction gone wrong surrounding Caitlin Clark, even though she was not even remotely connected to it except her jersey. Take Indiana’s season opener against the Chicago Sky where CC’s first Flagrant 1 foul came after stopping Angel Reese on a clear layup.

Then, a male fan wearing a red replica Clark jersey began making high-pitched noises courtside. Reese later reported the incident, prompting the WNBA to investigate. While Clark responded, “There’s no place for that in our game, there’s no place for that in society,” no conclusive evidence ever surfaced, and the matter faded. But did it really go away?

While the growth in viewership is something to celebrate, the aggression and abuse some fans bring with them paint a troubling picture. But, is it only limited to Fever fans??

Not Caitlin Clark, or Fever, but W’s fanbase is undergoing a negative shift!

Ever since the WNBA saw a surge in popularity—bringing with it undeniable boosts in revenue, viewership, and cultural relevance—it has also unleashed a darker side of fandom. While the league continues to celebrate sold-out arenas and celebrity sightings, some fans have brought with them an intensity that too often crosses the line into aggression.

From courtside heckling to online harassment, WNBA players have increasingly found themselves at the receiving end of harsh criticism. And yes, Caitlin Clark has not been immune herself. Just consider last season’s playoff game at Mohegan Sun Arena, where security had to intervene after Clark pointed out a fan who allegedly said something inappropriate to her.

The moment, caught live on ESPN, saw the man briefly escorted away from his courtside seat before being allowed to return. But the vitriol hasn’t been limited to in-game encounters. After the Fever’s playoff exit, Clark addressed the growing wave of online racism and hate many WNBA players have faced, saying, “It’s definitely upsetting. Nobody in our league should be facing any sort of racism—hurtful, disrespectful, hateful comments and threats. Those aren’t fans, those are trolls.”

These moments are a stark reminder that while the WNBA is finally getting the spotlight it has always deserved, it’s also being forced to confront the toxic baggage some new fans are bringing with them. As players continue to grow the game, they’re doing so under the weight of expectations, which often says more about the critics than the athletes themselves, and that’s exactly what happened with Saniya Rivers today!