The Chicago Sky were eliminated from the playoffs in Connecticut on Thursday, ending a season that began with promising newcomers Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.
What made matters worse, explained veteran Sky players Dana Evans and Isabelle Harrison, was a flood of fan vitriol aimed at themselves and their team-mates. And it wasn’t necessarily from fans of Caitlin Clark and the rival Indiana Fever, but from their own supporters in Chicago.
“I’ll be honest, it was tough. It was really tough,” Evans said after Sky lost to the Connecticut Sun in the season finale. “We’re professionals. We know we can play this game, but when you have people who are constantly bashing you and who are supposed to be our supporters, I think it’s a little bit of a slap in the face.
“That was really hard to deal with. It was really disgusting.”
Dana Evans of the Chicago Sky rides Veronica Burton of the Connecticut Sun
Chicago Sky power forward Isabelle Harrison arrives in Chicago for a game on September 15
For Harrison, who like Evans is African-American, the hate mostly boiled down to “intolerance and racism.”
“I’ve never seen so much hate and intimidation this entire season,” Harrison said, appearing to hold back tears. “It makes me emotional.”
Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon stood behind Harrison to offer her support to her player as she continued to answer the question.
“It’s hard because it never should have been this way,” Harrison said. “You just want to play basketball. If it’s online, it’s online. But now you’re tagged in it. I have to block people all the time, and people are just making stories about you. It’s hurtful. And it’s hard to just focus on basketball.”
Reese (right) previously said she has been the target of racist abuse by Clark fans
Chicago, once destined to clinch a playoff spot, lost its final five games of the season to finish two games outside of the eighth and final playoff spot. Both Reese (wrist) and Cardoso (shoulder) ended their seasons with injuries, as did veteran stars Diamond Deshields (ankle) and Chennedy Carter (foot).
While Evans pointed the finger at Sky fans, Reese previously claimed he had been targeted with “racism” and “death threats” by Clark’s fans across the country.
“If you’re going to support the Sky, support the Sky,” Reese said earlier this month. “I think that was a big problem. It messes you up mentally. I don’t care how good you are or what’s going on. You’re going to see things, you’re going to read things. But this, it’s made us better and a lot stronger here.”
Carter also drew criticism from Clark fans after a tough foul on the Fever star earlier this season.
The foul was ruled ‘too rough’ – Carter’s coach said it was ‘not appropriate’
