Chicago Sky players say a man with a camera harassed the team when they arrived at a hotel in Washington on Wednesday.
General manager Jeff Pagliocca told the Chicago Sun-Times the man was trying to talk to guard Chennedy Carter, who was the subject of intense scrutiny after a hard foul on Caitlin Clark last weekend. Pagliocca said the team’s security quickly defused the situation and the police were not called. But multiple players described the incident on X.
“[F]inding out our teams hotel to pull with a camera as we get off the bus and put it in my teammates face & HARASS her is NASTY WORK. this really is outta control and needs to STOP,” rookie Angel Reese wrote.
finding out our teams hotel to pull with a camera as we get off the bus and put it in my teammates face & HARASS her is NASTY WORK. this really is outta control and needs to STOP.
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) June 5, 2024
Forward Isabelle Harrison posted: “WOW!!! Thank GOD for security. My teammate being harassed at our hotel is insane! Couldn’t even step off the bus!!!”
Forward Michaela Onyenwere wrote: “Getting harassed at our hotel is where the line needs to be drawn. Some “fans” have NO CHILLLLL.” She also praised the team’s security while adding, “It’s still extremely weird & crosses the boundaries meeting us right when we get off the bus.”
“I wasn’t present for the interaction from earlier, but what occurred isn’t acceptable,” Brianna Turner posted. “Didn’t realize that when we said “grow the game” that would be interpreted as harassing players at hotels....Yes we (thankfully) travel with security, but the absurd headlines recently has certainly created an unstable environment for our safety.”
She added: “I’ve been called every racial slur imaginable lately and my teammates have had it even worse. No. I will not accept racism as “part of the game”. No I’m not sensitive. And no I won’t simply ignore the ignorant takes I’ve seen. The majority of you commenting could care less about the success of the WNBA and are only concerned with division.
“It’s troubling to even speak out on bc I know half the responses will be filled with slurs and making excuses for unacceptable behavior. I know we all have different values and outlooks, but the discourse as of late is disingenuous to say the least.”
Carter has been in the spotlight lately following a shoulder shot on prized Indiana Fever rookie Clark prior to an inbounds pass on Saturday. The referees called it an away-from-the-ball foul, though the WNBA later upgraded it to a flagrant-1.
Chicago play Washington on Thursday. The Sky are 3-5, while the Mystics are 0-9.
