Angel Reese Silent on WNBA Investigation Clearing Alleged Hateful Comments After Chicago Sky Loss

In a night filled with tension both on and off the court, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese remained tight-lipped as questions swirled around the WNBA’s recent investigation into alleged hateful remarks directed at her during a high-profile game against the Indiana Fever earlier this month.

Following the Sky’s narrow 94-89 defeat to the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday, Reese faced the media—but not a single question addressed the league’s announcement that it had found no evidence to support claims of racist or hateful fan behavior. The postgame press conference, streamed live on the team’s X (formerly Twitter) account, showed Reese focusing solely on the game, leaving the league’s findings untouched.

The investigation stemmed from an incident on May 17, when Indiana’s Caitlin Clark committed a flagrant foul against Reese during their season opener—a moment that quickly became a flashpoint on social media. Reports soon surfaced alleging that Reese was subjected to hateful comments from fans in the aftermath.

After a weeklong probe, including interviews with fans, team and arena staff, and a thorough review of game footage and audio, the WNBA issued a statement on Tuesday: “Based on information gathered to date, including from relevant fans, team and arena staff, as well as audio and video review of the game, we have not substantiated it. The WNBA is committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for everyone and will continue to be vigilant in enforcing our fan code of conduct.”

Despite the league’s findings, the controversy has not disappeared. Reese, already a lightning rod for attention since her collegiate days, previously spoke about the emotional toll the incident took on her, stating, “If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.” She credited the WNBA and her team for supporting her but declined to provide specifics about the alleged comments or whether she had shared details with the league.

Reese has also been outspoken about the darker side of her rising fame. On her podcast last fall, she accused some of Clark’s fans of racism and revealed that explicit, AI-generated images purporting to be of her had been sent to her family members—an experience she described as both shocking and deeply hurtful.

As the WNBA season heats up and the spotlight on its stars intensifies, the conversation around player safety, fan behavior, and the realities of online harassment is far from over. For now, Angel Reese is letting her game—and her silence—do the talking.