For only the 7th time, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese met each other on the court last Saturday. And like their every other showdown, this one packed a little spice, too, but not with a trail many would have liked. The reigning ROTY even had to emphasise, “but first of all, let’s not make it anything that it’s not,” after the now-infamous foul. But that arrived a little late. The alleged damage was already done. The WNBA would have to step in soon. And for one analyst, it is screaming trouble. No, not for the people the investigation is directed at; this one’s for the league itself.

It was just another WNBA game until the clock read 4:39 in the third quarter. Angel Reese had muscled past Fever’s Natasha Howard to establish a rebounding position. Clark, in order to deny her opponent the easy 2 points, extended her left arm and sent Reese to the floor while going for the ball. The officials declared it a flagrant-1 following a review. That moment sparked a storm that exposed a much bigger issue that these W players face on a regular basis.

Following the foul, Angel Reese headed to the line for two free throws. She missed the first, prompting a loud cheer from the crowd, and was met with boos after sinking the second. It all seemed like your typical road-game atmosphere–fans trying to rattle a visiting player. But what unfolded later painted a darker picture– Reese was allegedly subjected to hate chants and racial sl-rs during and after the game. That was enough for the WNBA to step in and announce an official investigation into the incident, bringing serious concerns about fan behavior and player safety back into the spotlight.

Rachel DeMita didn’t hold back when sharing her thoughts on the controversy. For her, this was taking the spotlight away from the game– a scene all too familiar. “We cannot let the basketball be overshadowed by the drama like they did last season or this will never be a serious league — the WNBA will never be serious… this is not a good representation of women’s basketball,” DeMita said.

Brittney Griner, Angel Reese, DiJonai Carrington, and Allyssa Thomas. These were only a few who stepped up to share the hate speech directed towards them last season. While it was a taunt on social media for one, it was a disturbing email to another. “I’ve never been called the things that I’ve been called on social media… something needs to be done,” Thomas would declare. That was the invitation for WNBA to step in, and they did.

In a statement, the league made clear there was no room for derogatory remarks in the league. It even revealed that threat-related activity was being closely monitored. We see the same off-court story take over now, and so for fans like Rachel DeMita, who are here for all things basketball, it is drawing away the interest. “Like this is too much. I am not here for the politics. I am not here for the reality show element, I am not here for race wars… I am here for the basketball,” she echoes.

So what does the podcaster need from the league? Transparency.

“It’d be one thing if WNBA did their investigation and didn’t make big comment about it. Or it would be another if they had already come out and said what they found… But we haven’t heard anything. What I absolutely need from the WNBA is for them to come out and say exactly what they found, exactly what they were investigating, and where that came from,” she adds. And if there’s someone spreading lies on social media, the podcaster suggests the league start from them.

It’s still uncertain whether the WNBA’s decision to launch an investigation stemmed from concrete evidence or simply online speculation. But one thing’s for sure–the league is making it clear that it won’t tolerate any form of hate. With its “No Space for Hate” campaign, the W has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding its players.

However, Rachel DeMita isn’t entirely satisfied. She’s pushing for more clarity from the league, especially as several online clips show no sign of racial chants coming from the Fever crowd toward Angel Reese. For her, transparency is key if the league wants to maintain credibility and keep the conversation centered on basketball.

That said, right after the WNBA announced its investigation, Indiana Fever players didn’t hold back in showing support for Angel Reese. They made it clear that there’s no room for hate in the game and hope those responsible are held accountable.

Indiana Fever players rally behind Angel Reese amid controversy

Indiana Fever players addressed the media on Monday after practice, following the WNBA’s decision to investigate allegations of “hateful fan comments” directed at Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese.

“There’s no place for that in our game, there’s no place for that in society,” Fever guard Caitlin Clark said. “Certainly, we want every person who comes into our arena — whether player or fan — to have a great experience. I appreciate the league doing that [investigation]. I appreciate that the Fever organization has been at the forefront of that.”

“No type of hate is ever welcomed here,” Boston said. “As a player you just have to stay strong and be able to call it out if something happens.”

It’s clear that while these two teams are fierce rivals on the court, off it they’ve got each other’s backs. If those racial sl-rs against Angel Reese did happen, then whoever’s responsible needs to face serious consequences. Respect and unity have to come first.