Chicago Sky players say a man with a camera harassed the team as they arrived at a Washington hotel on Wednesday.
General manager Jeff Pagliocca told the Chicago Sun-Times that the man tried to talk to guard Chennedy Carter. He said team security quickly diffused the situation and police were not called. But several players described the incident on X.
“Finding our team hotel to pull out a camera when we get off the bus and putting it in my teammates’ faces and harassing her is dirty work. This has really gotten out of hand and needs to STOP,” rookie Angel Reese wrote.
finding our team hotel to pull out with a camera when we get off the bus and putting it in my teammates face and harassing her is TEMPTABLE WORK. this is really out of control and must STOP.
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) June 5, 2024
Forward Isabelle Harrison posted: “WOW!!! Thank GOD for safety. It’s insane that my teammate is being harassed in our hotel! Couldn’t even get off the bus!!!”
Attacker Michaela Onyenwere wrote: “If we are being harassed in our hotel, we have to draw the line. Some “fans” have NO CHILLLLL.” She also praised the team’s safety, adding: “It’s still extremely weird and crosses boundaries and hits us as soon as we get off the bus.”
“I was not present for the interaction earlier, but what happened is not acceptable,” Brianna Turner Posted. “I didn’t realize that when we said ‘grow the game’ it would be interpreted as harassing players in hotels. Yes, we (fortunately) travel with security, but the absurd headlines of late have certainly created an unstable environment for our safety.”
She added: “I have been called every racial slur imaginable lately and my teammates have had it worse. No. I do not accept racism as ‘part of the game’. No, I’m not sensitive. And no, I won’t simply ignore the ignorant recordings I’ve seen. The majority of you commenting couldn’t care less about the WNBA’s success and are only concerned about division.
“It’s upsetting to even speak out because I know half the responses will be filled with insults and excuses for unacceptable behavior. I know we all have different values and views, but the discourse lately has been disingenuous to say the least.”
Carter has been in the spotlight lately after hitting a shoulder shot on prized Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark prior to an inbounds pass on Saturday. The officials called it an off-ball foul, although the WNBA later upgraded it to a flagrant-1.
Chicago plays Washington on Thursday. The Sky are 3-5, while the Mystics are 0-9.