Chelsea Gray, Aces: ‘Enough is enough’ with racist messages, WNBA can do more

Las Vegas Aces defender Chelsea Gray said she received a racist message through social media earlier this week and immediately took a screenshot. She first sent the image to her wife, then shared it in a group chat with teammates A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd. Wilson urged her to post it publicly, and Gray confirmed she had planned to do so, explaining that she wanted to show what kinds of messages athletes like her are facing so the issue could not be ignored. “Enough was benignant of enough,” Gray said connected Wednesday. “These messages are not the archetypal of its kind. There was different stuff, too. I conscionable decided to stock that one. It was conscionable time. I got fed up with it.” “I cognize radical volition deliberation doubly now.” Gray noted that the Aces organization released a statement denouncing the racist messages and praised Hilton Grand Vacations for firing the employee who sent the insult. “I mean, it was their codification of conduct, right?” Gray said. She added that she had not yet spoken with the WNBA about the incident as of early Wednesday afternoon, though she had contacted WNBPA enforcement manager Terri Carmichael Jackson and other players. “I deliberation they can’t disregard that it’s happening,” Gray said. “Sometimes soundlessness is conscionable agreeance oregon sometimes soundlessness is conscionable that you don’t privation to ruffle feathers, but past you’re neglecting a definite colonisation that is really getting affected by it. So the shot is successful their court. I’ve done my job. I volition proceed to bash my job. My teammates will, too. And it’s each portion of a bigger systemic racism contented successful that’s however it shows up for america arsenic Black athletes.” Reigning MVP A’ja Wilson said she wanted the league to take a stronger stance. The WNBA responded by sharing the Aces’ statement on its social media channels and adding its own: “The WNBA afloat supports the Las Vegas Aces’ connection and stands with Chelsea and each subordinate of our league. We unequivocally condemn racism and each forms of hate. There is nary spot for this behaviour successful sports oregon anywhere, and we stay committed to protecting the players and fostering an situation built connected respect and inclusion.” Wilson spoke after practice, expressing frustration that the league’s “No Space for Hate” initiative from the previous year seemed absent this season. “Sometimes I cognize I get a feeling that it’s conscionable truly conscionable us, and that’s gross,” Wilson said. “That’s not thing that needs to beryllium going on. It’s conscionable the say-so of like, ‘We perceive y’all, we spot y’all.’ We had the No Space for Hate (platform) past year, but present I don’t spot it and we don’t perceive it astatine each this year. This isn’t conscionable a trend. This isn’t conscionable thing that goes connected present and there. This is our livelihood.” When asked where change should begin, Wilson replied, “From the top. The implicit top.” She also linked the issue to broader concerns, saying, “If you travel aft one, you travel aft all,” and added, “But I deliberation there’s a larger speech that needs to beryllium had that is truly supra us, and I deliberation that is the portion that we truly request to get to. So hopefully astatine All-Star (Weekend adjacent week) we tin person an accidental and a speech due to the fact that astatine this time, thing needs to change. It’s really disgusting. So I’m gladsome that Chelsea had an accidental to talk up and person an accidental to amusement what we’ve been going done and we’re going to proceed to spell done until we person that conversation.” Wilson concluded, “It’s heartbreaking to spot those things happen, but it’s besides heartwarming erstwhile you person a franchise that’s down you 100 percent.” Gray expressed appreciation for the supportive response she received after sharing the screenshot, including the public identification of the sender. The Aces’ statement read: “We basal down those who person the courageousness to talk up for themselves,” the Aces’ connection read. “We are agreed with anyone who has been targeted by this benignant of unacceptable behavior. We basal with organizations, similar Hilton Grand Vacations, that clasp individuals accountable for racist conduct. We commend them for the swift mode successful which they acted successful addressing this matter. No jock should ever look this benignant of maltreatment for playing the crippled they love.”