The Chicago Sky were eliminated from playoff contention in Connecticut on Thursday, dealing the final blow to a season that began with the promising arrivals of rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.
To make matters worse, veteran Sky players Dana Evans and Isabelle Harrison explained that there was a torrent of fan criticism directed at them and their teammates. And it wasn’t necessarily coming from fans of Caitlin Clark and rival team Indiana Fever, but from their own supporters in Chicago.
“I’ll be honest, it was tough. It was really tough,” Evans said after the Sky fell to the Connecticut Sun in the season finale. “We’re professionals. We know we can play this game, but when you have people constantly criticizing you and they’re supposed to be our fans, I feel like it was a little slap in the face.”
“It was a very difficult thing to deal with. It was really disgusting.”
Chicago Sky’s Dana Evans drives against Connecticut Sun’s Veronica Burton
Chicago Sky forward Isabelle Harrison arrives in Chicago for a game on September 15
For Harrison, who, like Evans, is African-American, much of the hate came from “bigotry and racism.”
“I’ve never experienced so much hate and harassment this entire season,” Harrison said, apparently holding back tears. “I’m emotional.”
Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon stood behind Harrison to offer support to her player as she continued to address the question.
“It’s hard because it should never have been this way,” Harrison said. “You just want to play basketball. If it’s online, it’s online. But now you’re getting tagged. I have to block people constantly, and people are creating stories about you. It’s painful. And it’s hard to just focus on basketball.”
Reese (right) previously said he had been the target of racist abuse from Clark’s fans.
Chicago, which seemed destined for a playoff berth, lost its final five games of the season and finished two games out of the eighth and final playoff spot. Both Reese (wrist) and Cardoso (shoulder) finished their seasons with injuries, as did veteran stars Diamond Deshields (ankle) and Chennedy Carter (foot).
While Evans singled out Sky fans, Reese previously claimed to be the target of “racism” and “death threats” from Clark fans across the country.
“If you’re going to root for the Sky, root for the Sky,” Reese said earlier this month. “I feel like that was a big deal. It affects your mind. 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 made us better and a lot stronger here.”
Carter also faced criticism from Clark fans after a harsh foul on the Fever star earlier in the season.
The foul drew criticism for being “too harsh” and Carter’s coach said it was “not appropriate.”
