NEED TO KNOW
- ESPN analyst and former WNBA participant Chiney Ogwumike apologized for reinforcing claims that Indiana Fever followers made racist feedback in direction of Chicago Sky gamers earlier this month
- The WNBA introduced its investigation into the matter confirmed there was no proof that followers yelled the alleged racist remarks
- WNBA gamers have spoken out about racist followers previously, together with particular allegations towards Indiana Fever followers as not too long ago as final season
Girls’s basketball analyst Chiney Ogwumike apologized Wednesday for talking out towards alleged racist feedback made by Indiana Fever followers in direction of the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese that had been declared unfounded after an investigation by the WNBA.
Ogwumike’s apology, shared in a social media video on Tuesday, comes after the WNBA introduced earlier within the day that the league allegedly discovered no proof of the alleged racist remarks that had been stated to have been hurled at Reese, 23, and different Sky gamers following a tense back-and-forth between the Sky ahead and her longstanding on-court rival Caitlin Clark.
“Now we have investigated the report of racist fan habits within the neighborhood of the court docket throughout the Might 17, 2025 Chicago Sky at Indiana Fever recreation,” the WNBA introduced earlier Tuesday. “Based mostly on data gathered to this point, together with from related followers, staff and area employees, in addition to audio and video overview of the sport, we’ve got not substantiated it.”
Later within the day, Ogwumike, who performed seven years within the WNBA with the Connecticut Solar and the Los Angeles Sparks, apologized for reinforcing the preliminary allegations on her social media pages and through an look on ESPN earlier this month.
On her “Chiney Present” on social media earlier this month, the previous WNBA star stated, “I don’t wish to stay in a WNBA the place I consider all followers are unhealthy, or most followers are unhealthy, or sure followers of sure groups are unhealthy.” Throughout the section, Ogwumike had alleged that “gamers and coaches of the Chicago Sky have stated that they heard issues that had been out of bounds coming from the followers in Indiana throughout the recreation” and that it led to the WNBA investigation, which concluded Wednesday.
The previous WNBA star stated in her follow-up video apologizing Wednesday that she wished to “deal with this with the identical power I did the primary time, trigger should you actually know me, I at all times strive my best possible to uplift the WNBA, to have a good time the superb gamers, the coaches, and naturally, the followers, that’s one thing that’s on the core of every little thing that I do.”
“But when you realize me, you realize I’m not afraid to say I can do higher,” Ogwumike continued. “I’m sorry that my message was within the warmth of the second, trigger after I initially spoke on the subject, it actually got here from a spot of care. It was primarily based on first-hand conversations with folks very near the state of affairs who raised actual considerations, and so they advised me what they’d skilled, and I felt prefer it was essential and it was essential to acknowledge these allegations and in addition voice these experiences.”
Ogwumike continued: “Now, within the course of nonetheless, I completely acknowledge that it could have impacted followers in a method that I didn’t intend, and I’m sorry. I’m additionally completely satisfied that the WNBA handled the matter with the utmost seriousness, adopted by means of with the investigation, and I perceive that having a platform comes with a accountability and I don’t take that evenly.”
By no means miss a narrative — join ipromiseyoumedia’s free each day neighborhood to remain up-to-date on the perfect of what ipromiseyoumedia has to supply, from juicy superstar information to forcing human curiosity tales.
The WNBA analyst, who seems on ESPN applications equivalent to Sportscenter, First Take, and Get Up!, stated that “as our league continues to develop, I’m going to develop with it.”
“I’m so dedicated to be higher in how I share views and develop alongside the sport I really love and adore,” she added. “I imply, a few of my favourite recollections as a professional was taking part in in Indiana, and I really consider that within the WNBA, we’ve got probably the most passionate followers and I’m grateful for our neighborhood. I hope you realize, that’s who I’m.”
Prior to now, WNBA gamers have accused Fever followers of hurling racist assaults at rival gamers. Final season, Connecticut Solar ahead Alyssa Thomas stated the followers shout “lots of nonsense” at opposing gamers of shade. “I believe that in my 11-year profession I by no means skilled the racial feedback like from the Indiana Fever fan base,” Thomas, who’s Black, stated.
On the time, retired WNBA star Sue Chook defended Clark, 23, from having any private responsiblity for the Fever followers’ alleged actions, saying on her podcast with spouse Megan Rapinoe that “Racism has been impacting the WNBA nicely earlier than [Clark entered the league].”
“This isn’t a brand new factor,” Chook stated. “In that method, I believe Caitlin is getting used as a pawn. Caitlin did not deliver racism to the WNBA. This has been occurring. And that, I believe, has been a shock for all of us. That different persons are shocked by this. We have been making an attempt to let you know.”
Clark has spoken out towards racism previously and once more slammed the newest allegations stemming from her staff’s 93-58 win over the Sky earlier this month. “There is no place for that in our recreation, there is not any place for that in society,” Clark stated, in accordance with ESPN. “Actually, we would like each one who comes into our area — whether or not participant or fan — to have a fantastic expertise. I recognize the league doing that [investigation]. I recognize that the Fever group has been on the forefront of that.”