Apology Demanded from WNBA and Fever Following Unfounded Allegations Against Fans
Sky suffers loss to Washington, with Angel Reese snatching Mystics' newcomer from them, according to the report.
Republican Senator Jim Banks voiced his displeasure on OutKick's "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich" about the lack of a public apology from the WNBA and Indiana Fever after a recent investigation that found no evidence supporting claims of racial slurs against WNBA star Angel Reese.
Amid a heated contest between the Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics, Reese, a Sky player, found herself in an altercation with a Mystics player. Despite her impressive performance with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, she was accused of swiping at Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen during the game.
While Iriafen took the final laugh after the incident with a crucial bucket, the fiasco cast a shadow over the game, with the Mystics edging the Sky and improving their record to 5-7 [1]. The Sky, however, suffered a setback, dropping to 3-8 [2].
As the players went about their business, the allegations grew more serious off the court. Reese accused fans of directing racial insults at her during the game. However, an investigation, lasting about 10 days, turned up no evidence to substantiate these claims. The WNBA concluded that the allegations were baseless, leaving fans and Senator Banks perplexed by the lack of a public apology from the Fever and the WNBA [3][4].
Senator Banks called out Reese for her failure to apologize to the Indiana Fever fanbase and the state for this turn of events, stating her silence reflects poorly on her and the situation. He further criticized the WNBA and the Fever for not acknowledging the distress caused to their fans by these unfounded accusations [1][2][3][4].
The incident and its aftermath serve as a reminder of the importance of accuracy and accountability, especially in high-profile sports events like the WNBA. As the dust settles, fans and pundits alike are left pondering the post-match respect and decorum that should be upheld by all parties involved [4].
[1] https://www.nba.com/wnba/game/20250617/CHIWAS#/boxscore
[2] https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/35071471/wnba-chicago-sky-indiana-fever-game-jeopardized-u-s-senate-vote
[3] https://www.sbnation.com/wnba/2025/6/20/23780107/angel-reese-racial-slurs-chicago-sky-indiana-fever-wnba
[4] https://theathletic.com/3264666/2025/06/21/wnbas-angel-reese-stirs-political-controversy-over-racial-slurs-allegations/
Kamilla Cardoso led the Sky scorers with 18 points, while Sykes, the Mystics guard, was the top scorer overall with 32 points. Iriafen, who courtesy of Sykes missed shot, contributed eight points and six rebounds to the Mystics victory [1].
Follow our website Digital for comprehensive sports coverage on X, and sign up for the our website Sports Huddle newsletter for updates in your inbox.
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for our website Digital.
- Despite the unfounded allegations against fans of using racial slurs towards WNBA star Angel Reese, the WNBA and Indiana Fever have yet to issue an apology, as demanded by Republican Senator Jim Banks.
- In the recent WNBA contest between the Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics, Kiki Iriafen was the Mystics' second-highest scorer with eight points, contributing to the Mystics' win, despite the controversy surrounding the alleged racial slurs against Sky player Angel Reese off the court.
