Grandmother recalls racially derogatory remarks toward Angel Reese during Sky vs. Fever game

(WGN) — Sabrina Smith traveled with her daughter and granddaughter from St. Louis to Indiana to attend her first WNBA game in person, but the experience ended up being tainted by what she witnessed in the stands.

“We’re sports lovers – sports lovers, period. My granddaughter is 12. She’s beginning to play basketball and she loves it. We thought it would be an absolutely exceptional experience for her.”

It was exactly that, until the third quarter of Saturday’s season opener between the Fever and Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. That’s when Indiana star Caitlin Clark was charged with a flagrant foul on this play against Angel Reese, inciting a reaction from some fans in the stands that Smith witnessed.

“Of course the refs are getting together at this time, so it’s quiet. As soon as they make the call that they’re going to upgrade it to a flagrant, all of a sudden you hear the noise.

“I’m listening and I’m hearing [racially derogatory remark] this and [racially derogatory remark] that. My 12-year-old granddaughter’s with me so, I’m trying my hardest not to react, making sure that I’m listening to what I heard. Then, when Angel came up to take the shots, they really start making [racially derogatory remark] noises and calling her [racially derogatory remark],” Smith said. “My granddaughter’s looking around. I touch her, say hey, pay attention to the game to see if she makes this [free throw] … I absolutely heard it. I did not try to react to it.

“They played a few more minutes. I heard a couple of more comments about [racially derogatory remark] this and [racially derogatory remark] that. I really tuned it out because I came to watch the ladies play. I love these ladies. Whether it’s Caitlin Clark or it’s Angel Reese, these ladies are phenomenal.”

Smith also said that both Sky and Fever fans turned around in their section to see where the comments were coming from.

“I know that what I heard, they heard it as well because they wouldn’t have been looking like they were,” Smith said.

A day after the game, the WNBA announced an investigation into hateful comments directly at Reese.

“The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms – they have no place in our league or in society.”

“If it wasn’t heard or if it wasn’t said, there wouldn’t be an investigation – period. They’re not going to investigate something that didn’t happen. I mean this stuff is real. It exists.”

Smith and her family were sitting in the 200 section, too far up she says for any players to hear the racist language. But the incident will stick with Smith for a long time.

“It just really put a bad taste in my mouth. My granddaughter’s not happy. I don’t want to go back to Indiana. I’m really upset about it because I was going to come down and watch them play against the Wings. And I was thinking about All-Star tickets. I don’t feel that way anymore.

WGN reached out to the WNBA for additional comment, but the league said they have no subsequent statement than the one they provided Sunday.

*Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article