Few would argue that Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese are two of the more polarizing figures in the WNBA.
Clark, who’s arguably the most popular player in the league, has been taking her share of abuse this season from her peers and from some fans. Conversely, Reese has been an easy target on social media for fans, earning heavy criticism for stat-padding and her brash personality.
Reese’s fans have gone after Clark full force at times, and Clark’s fans have attacked Reese just as much, leading to the WNBA conducting an investigation earlier this season to look into accusations of racist comments made toward Reese.
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The league was unable to substantiate the report, but those kinds of personal attacks against players have seemingly become commonplace in the WNBA, according to Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier.
During a recent appearance on the “A Touch More” podcast, hosted by WNBA legend Sue Bird and USWNT star Megan Rapinoe, Collier boldly stated she’s growing concerned with the troubling new trend she’s noticed where WNBA fans have been lashing out at players with aggressive and hateful comments.
Napheesa Collier talks about the hatred around the league, not just with Caitlin/Angel:
“It is getting so toxic in our league, just hatred out there towards other players, not just Angel and Caitlin. I feel like we are trending in a bad spot with that” pic.twitter.com/sxkB7Sa5Qc
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“You know what is kind of surprising, and disappointing, honestly, it is getting so toxic I feel like in our league with a lot of the fans going back and forth. Basketball and sports are supposed to be so unifying, and it is so toxic like every game it is hatred out there toward other players — and not just Angel and Caitlin.
“They are the OGs where people will get so polarizing with, but it’s with everyone, and people are just so nasty on there and it’s like, ‘We’re playing a game’ and you are saying hateful things about players. That I feel like has been really surprising, and I feel like we’re trending in a really bad spot with that.”
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Collier’s remarks come at an interesting time given Reese is currently at the center of another controversy involving three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker.
Parker, a seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-WNBA first-team selection, two-time league MVP, and WNBA Finals MVP, recently stated that she’s hesitant to include Reese among the top players in the league right now.
“Are you taking Angel above Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum, Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, or Breanna Stewart?” Parker asked. “No. That does not make her a bad player. That does not make me a hater.”