Fever's Kelsey Mitchell speaks on Angel Reese fan remedy controversy

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Indiana Fever participant Kelsey Mitchell spoke concerning the perceived remedy of Chicago Sky star Angel Reese by followers.

Whereas talking to reporters on the WNBA All-Star game , a reporter requested Mitchell her ideas on the "negativity" directed towards Reese, "as a Black lady."

"I believe it is necessary to be sure that we preserve it much less about colour and extra about simply human to human," Mitchell answered. "I believe should you simply have decency and customary decency about what we do as ladies on the ground, you already know that Angel Reese is a nasty lady on and off the ground. And we as ladies need to signify that."

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Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky reacts through the second half of the sport in opposition to the Washington Mystics at EagleBank Area on July 8, 2025, in Fairfax, Virginia. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Pictures)

When requested what Mitchell would say to the followers who direct negativity at Reese, Mitchell mentioned, "God bless you."

"I hope your spirit is in heal a stage to the place you do not have to make these feedback cuz it is actually bashful. Um we as ladies. We come on right here and we attempt to compete and join and use hoop to, you already know, categorical ourselves," Mitchell mentioned.

"Prefer it's not at all times going to go our approach and the those that wager on us and the individuals the nasty feedback that we get concerning the individuals we do and do not play with, it is prefer it's disrespectful to what we making an attempt to do, like give us the good thing about the doubt and I hope that folks see us as people."

Reese is without doubt one of the league's extra in style and polarizing gamers, and has constructed a passionate following largely on her ongoing rivalry with phenom Caitlin Clark courting again to their faculty days. Clark's and Reese's rookie season in 2024 noticed the league break a number of viewership and attendance data, notably because of video games that includes Clark and the Indiana Fever.

Reese was criticized for a gesture on the finish of the 2023 NCAA ladies's basketball championship recreation the place she pointed to her ring finger to taunt Clark after Reese's staff gained. The second boosted Reese's public profile and incited polarizing consideration, with lots of Clark followers hurling criticisms at Reese on-line.

Nevertheless, one occasion of alleged mistreatment of Reese was investigated and never substantiated.

WNBA INVESTIGATION FINDS NO EVIDENCE OF HATEFUL COMMENTS TOWARD ANGEL REESE

After a reported incident of fan harassment in opposition to Reese through the Fever and Sky's first recreation of the season on Could 17, the WNBA launched an investigation into the matter. However the league introduced 10 days later that the allegations of "hateful feedback" have been "not substantiated."

"We respect the swift and thorough course of undertaken by the WNBA to research these allegations, which weren't substantiated," the Fever mentioned in an announcement.

"At Gainbridge Fieldhouse, we're dedicated to offering the very best basketball expertise for gamers and followers the place hate speech has completely no place. Indiana is residence to the world's best followers, and we stay up for an thrilling season of Fever basketball."

Added the WNBA, "Based mostly on data gathered up to now, together with from related followers, staff and enviornment employees, in addition to audio and video overview of the sport, we have now not substantiated [the report]. The WNBA is dedicated to fostering a protected and inclusive surroundings for everybody and can proceed to be vigilant in imposing our fan code of conduct."

U.S. Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind, referred to as on the WNBA and the Fever to apologize to Fever followers after that investigation discovered no proof.

"(Reese) accused the Indiana Fever fan base of being racists. They investigated it. They mentioned these accusations have been false. The least that she might do is apologize to our nice state and the followers that present up at these video games and say, ‘I’m sorry, I used to be mistaken.’ Clearly, she’s not going to try this," Banks mentioned Tuesday throughout an look on OutKick’s "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich."

"These are terrible accusations. They weren’t true. The followers weren’t shouting racial slurs in the direction of Angel Reese or opposing gamers. I imply, the place is Caitlin Clark? The place is the Indiana Fever? The place is the WNBA saying that that investigation? There shouldn’t have been an investigation. The allegations have been false. The place’s the apology? It’s disappointing."

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Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark can be high gamers in subsequent season's WNBA Draft. (Getty Pictures)

It's unclear whether or not Reese notified the WNBA to immediate the investigation. Sky head coach Tyler Marsh came upon concerning the studies "when everybody else did." Nevertheless, Reese has mentioned previously that Fever and Iowa followers have been racist towards her.

"It’s so demeaning to our state and to the fan base to undergo one thing like that. The least they'll do is apologize to the followers," Banks added. "That’s the type of rubbish that will get thrown round on a regular basis."

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Jackson Thompson is a sports activities author for Fox Information Digital. He beforehand labored for ESPN and Enterprise Insider. Jackson has coated the Tremendous Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.