WNBA issues statement moments after Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever knocked out of playoffs

The WNBA issued a statement condemning "racist, derogatory, or threatening comments" - moments after Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever was eliminated from the playoffs by the Connecticut Sun .

The Fever fanbase has been publicly called out several times - including by Angel Reese - over abuse sent to rival players. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert recently sparked controversy with her response when asked about a racial divide among fanbases, prompting the Women's National Basketball Player's Association (WNBPA) to release a statement criticizing her answer.

The WNBA has now issued a statement regarding fan behavior across the league, which was released just minutes after Clark's historic rookie season came to an end. The statement read: "The WNBA is a competitive league with some of the most elite athletes in the world.

"While we welcome a growing fan base, the WNBA will not tolerate racist, derogatory, or threatening comments made about players, teams and anyone affiliated with the league. League security is actively monitoring threat-related activity and will work directly with teams and arenas to take appropriate measures, to include involving law enforcement, as necessary."

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Immediately after beating the Fever, Connecticut Sun star Alyssa Thomas also called out Indiana Fever's fan base. In a powerful press conference, Thomas said: "I think in my 11-year career, I've never experienced the racial comments (like) from the Indiana Fever fan base. It's unacceptable, honestly, and there's no place for it.

"We've been professional throughout the whole entire thing, but I've never been called the things that I've been called on social media, and there's no place for it. Basketball is headed in a great direction, but we don't want fans that are going to degrade us and call us racial things.

"We already see what's happening in the world and what we have to deal with in that aspect. We come to play basketball for our job, and it's fun, but we don't want to go to work every day and have social media blown up over things like that. It's uncalled for and something needs to be done, whether it's them checking their fans or the league, there's no time for it anymore."

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Speaking on her podcast, "Unapologetically Angel", earlier this month, Angel Reese said: "I think it’s really just the fans. Her fans, the Iowa fans, now the Indiana fans...they ride for her and I respect that."

"Sometimes [the fan interactions] are very disrespectful. I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to it. I don’t believe [Clark] stands on any of that, but when it comes to death threats, I’m talking about that people have come down to my address."