WNBA denounces negative messages players receive online after DiJonai Carrington received threatening email

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — On what should have been a celebratory night for the Connecticut Sun, as they advanced to their sixth consecutive WNBA semifinals by eliminating the Indiana Fever in a first-round sweep, some ugliness instead crept in.

The WNBA, in a statement issued Wednesday night, denounced the negative messages players receive online after Sun guard DiJonai Carrington shared a threatening email she received. The email posted on Carrington’s Instagram story included a racial slur and the threat of sexual assault.

“While we welcome a growing fan base, the WNBA will not tolerate racist, derogatory, or threatening comments made about players, teams and anyone affiliated with the league,” the statement read. “League security is actively monitoring threat-related activity and will work directly with teams and arenas to take appropriate measures, to include involving law enforcement, as necessary.”

Carrington didn’t comment on the incident after the 87-81 victory. Alyssa Thomas, Carrington’s teammate, pointed at Indiana Fever fans for being behind the increased vitriol she said players have faced this year. The league has experienced a boost in fandom with the arrival of Fever rookie Caitlin Clark and Sky rookie Angel Reese, but WNBA players also have discussed throughout the year that the rise in attention has also invited toxicity.

“It’s been a lot of nonsense. I think in my 11-year career, I’ve never experienced the racial comments (like I have) from the Indiana Fever fan base,” Thomas said. “I’ve never been called the things that I’ve been called on social media, and there’s no place for it. Basketball is headed in a great direction. But we don’t want fans that are going to degrade us and call us racial names.”


https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5795621/2024/09/26/wnba-dijonai-carrington-negative-online-messages/