Indiana senator calls on WNBA, Fever to apologize to fans after accusations of racism: ‘So demeaning’

U.S. Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., called on the WNBA and the Indiana Fever to apologize to Fever fans aft the league’s probe failed to find grounds that corroborated allegations of radical comments directed at Angel Reese during a caller game. 

The league investigated the allegations involving the Chicago Sky prima past period aft a May 17 crippled hosted by the Fever. 

Chicago Sky guardant Angel Reese (5) reacts to a flagrant foul from Indiana Fever defender Caitlin Clark (22) May 17, 2025, astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse successful Indianapolis. (Grace Smith/IndyStar/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

"Based connected accusation gathered to date, including from applicable fans, squad and arena staff, arsenic good arsenic audio and video reappraisal of the game, we person not substantiated [the report,]" the league said successful a statement. 

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"The WNBA is committed to fostering a harmless and inclusive situation for everyone and volition proceed to beryllium vigilant successful enforcing our instrumentality codification of conduct."

The Sky and the Fever released statements aft the league’s investigation, but Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Banks believes each parties progressive – particularly the Fever – beryllium fans an apology. 

"(Reese) accused the Indiana Fever instrumentality basal of being racists. They investigated it. They said those accusations were false. The slightest that she could bash is apologize to our large authorities and the fans that amusement up astatine these games and say, ‘I’m sorry, I was wrong.’ Obviously, she’s not going to bash that," Banks said Tuesday during an quality connected OutKick’s "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich."

U.S. Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana speaks during a sojourn and quality league with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, Kelly Loeffler, March 10, 2025, astatine Aerodyn Engineering successful Indianapolis. (Imagn)

WNBA INVESTIGATION FINDS NO EVIDENCE OF HATEFUL COMMENTS TOWARD ANGEL REESE

"Those are atrocious accusations. They weren’t true. The fans weren’t shouting radical slurs towards Angel Reese oregon opposing players. I mean, wherever is Caitlin Clark? Where is the Indiana Fever? Where is the WNBA saying that that probe – determination shouldn’t person been an investigation. The allegations were false. Where’s the apology? It’s disappointing." 

It is unclear whether Reese notified the WNBA to punctual the investigation. Sky caput manager Tyler Marsh recovered retired astir the reports "when everyone other did." However, Reese has said successful the past that Fever and Iowa fans person been racist toward her. 

"It’s truthful demeaning to our authorities and to the instrumentality basal to spell done thing similar that. The slightest they tin bash is apologize to the fans," Banks added. "That’s the benignant of garbage that gets thrown astir each the time." 

Chicago Sky guardant Angel Reese reacts aft a foul telephone against the Phoenix Mercury successful the archetypal fractional astatine Footprint Center Phoenix, Ariz., May 27, 2025. (Rick Scuteri/Imagn Images)

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Before the commencement of the 2025 season, the WNBA launched No Space for Hate, described arsenic "a multi-dimensional level designed to combat hatred and beforehand respect crossed each WNBA spaces." The inaugural includes "unified messaging" during games and done societal media contented and the usage of AI-powered exertion to show societal media activity. 

Fox News Digital’s Ryan Morik and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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