“No Athlete Should Face This”: Aces Respond to Racist Abuse
The Las Vegas Aces and the WNBA have publicly condemned the racist and hateful messages directed at Chelsea Gray, issuing strong statements of support for the veteran guard while reaffirming their commitment to fighting discrimination across the league.
The Aces described the abuse as “hateful and racist messages” and made it clear that such behavior has no place in basketball or society.
“The Las Vegas Aces organization unequivocally condemns the hateful and racist messages recently directed at Chelsea Gray. We do not tolerate hate speech of any type, whether it’s online, in the arena, or anywhere within our community.”
The organization also praised those who have taken action against the abuse, adding:
“No athlete should ever face this type of abuse for playing the game they love.”
Shortly after, the WNBA released its own statement in support of Gray and the Aces.
“The WNBA fully supports the Las Vegas Aces’ statement and stands with Chelsea and every member of our league. We unequivocally condemn racism and all forms of hate.”
The league added that “there is no place for this behavior in sports or anywhere” and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting players while fostering “an environment built on respect and inclusion.”
The coordinated response from both the Aces and the WNBA sends a clear message that racism and hate speech will not be tolerated, and that players will continue to receive the league’s full support when they are targeted.
