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Indiana Fever -player Kelsey Mitchell talked about the perceived treatment of Chicago Sky Star Angel Reese of fans.
While talking to journalists on the WNBA All-Star game, a reporter Mitchell asked his thoughts on “the negativity” aimed at Reese, “as a black woman.”
“I think it’s important to make sure we keep it less about color and more about just human to human,” replied Mitchell. “I think if you just have decency and common decency about what we do as women on the floor, you know that Angel Reese is a bad woman on and off the floor. And we as women have to represent it.”
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Angel Reese of Chicago Sky responds during the second half of the game against Washington Mystics at Eaglebank Arena on July 8, 2025 in Fairfax, Virginia. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
When asked what Mitchell would say to the fans directing negativity to Reese, Mitchell said, “God bless you.”
“I hope your spirit is in healing a scene where you don’t have to make these comments because it’s really bashful. Um we as women. We come here and we try to compete and connect and use a brace to you know, express us,” Mitchell said.
“Just as it won’t always go our way and the people who bet on us and the people, the ugly comments we get about the people we do and don’t play with, it’s as if it’s disrespectful to what we are trying to do, like giving us the benefit of the doubt, and I hope people see us as human beings.”
Reese is one of the league’s more popular and polarizing players and has built a passionate to a large extent on her ongoing rivalry with Phenom Caitlin Clark, which goes back to their college days. Clarks and Reese’s Rookie season in 2024 saw the league break more viewing and participation records, especially because of games with Clark and Indiana Fever.
Reese was criticized for a gesture at the end of 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game, where she pointed to her ring finger to tighten Clark after Reese’s team won. The moment Reese’s public profile increased and encouraged polarizing attention, with many of Clark fans who threw criticism on Reese online.
However, an example of alleged abuse of Reese was investigated and not substantiated.
WNBA study finds no proof of hateful comments to Angel Reese
Following a reported incident of fan -harassment against Reese during the fever and Sky’s first match of the season of May 17, WNBA launched an investigation into the case. But the league announced 10 days later that the allegations of “hateful comments” were “not substantiated.”
“We value the quick and thorough process that WNBA makes to investigate these accusations that were not substantiated,” the fever said in a statement.
“At Gainbridge Fieldhouse, we are obliged to give the best possible basketball experience for players and fans, where the hatred room has absolutely no place. Indiana is home to the world’s biggest fans and we look forward to an exciting season of fever basketball.”
Added WNBA, “Based on information collected to date, including from relevant fans, team and arena staff as well as audio and video review of the game, we have not supported [the report]. WNBA is required to promote a safe and inclusive environment for everyone and will continue to be aware of enforcing our fan code for behavior. “
US Senator Jim Banks, R-IND, called for Wnba And the fever to apologize for fever fever after this study found no evidence.
“(Reese) accused the Indiana Fever -Fan base of being racists. They examined it. They said these accusations were false. The least she could do is excuse our big state and the fans who show up on these games and say, ‘I’m sorry I was wrong.’ Obviously she won’t do that, ”Banks said Tuesday during a performance on Outkicks “Don’t @ me with Dan Dakich.”
“These are horrible accusations. They were not right. The fans did not shout racial slurver against Angel Reese or opposing players. I mean, where is Caitlin Clark? Where is the Indiana fever? Where does wnba say that study? There shouldn’t have been a study. The allegations were false. Where is the apology? It’s disappointing. ”
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark will be top players next season WNBA Draft. (Getty Images)
It is unclear whether Reese informed WNBA to request the investigation. Sky -head coach Tyler Marsh found out the reports “when everyone else did.” However, Reese has said in the past that fever and Iowa fans have been racist to her.
“It is so degrading for our state and for the fanbase to review something similar. The least they can do is apologize to the fans,” Banks added. “It’s the kind of garbage that is being thrown around all the time.”
