Hilton Grand Vacations has terminated an employee who allegedly sent a racial slur to Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray following the team’s 109-75 loss to the Indiana Fever on Sunday. The incident gained public attention after Gray posted a screenshot of the direct message, which included the slur, to her Instagram story on Monday. In her post, Gray wrote, “People act like we just make this s— up. And the audacity to tell us as athletes to ‘shut up and dribble.’”
Company Response and Investigation
Following Gray’s social media post, members of the online community investigated the sender’s profile. Users noted that the individual had tagged Hilton Grand Vacations in several of his own social media stories and appeared in photos wearing a company name tag. Hilton Grand Vacations confirmed on Tuesday that the individual is no longer employed by the organization. In a statement provided to Front Office Sports, the company stated, “The person responsible for posting this information is no longer with the company. His behavior was in violation of multiple company policies and does not reflect our company’s values in any way.” Prior to the termination, the company had acknowledged the allegations and stated they were conducting an internal review, noting that they take such concerns seriously.
Broader Context of Online Harassment in the WNBA
The abuse directed at Gray is part of a growing trend of online harassment targeting WNBA players. The incident occurred just weeks after Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas reported receiving death threats and racial slurs following a game against the Indiana Fever. During that June 24 matchup, Thomas was suspended for one game after pushing her fist to the throat of Fever guard Caitlin Clark. Thomas has been outspoken regarding the lack of safety for players, criticizing the league for remaining silent while athletes face threats to their lives. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert responded to Thomas’s comments by stating that the league “vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate” and remains committed to protecting all players. Additionally, Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams reported receiving a hateful audio message on Instagram on Saturday after a 90-85 win over the New York Liberty. In that instance, a fan targeted Williams with abuse after she failed to reach a statistical threshold that affected the fan’s player prop bet.
Recent Incidents of Hostility
The discourse surrounding these incidents has intensified amid ongoing debates regarding the treatment of players, particularly in relation to the high-profile presence of Caitlin Clark. Recent events involving WNBA players and online harassment include: | Player | Incident Context | Nature of Harassment | | :— | :— | :— | | Chelsea Gray | After loss to Indiana Fever | Racial slur via DM | | Alyssa Thomas | After incident with Caitlin Clark | Death threats and racial slurs | | Courtney Williams | After win over New York Liberty | Hateful audio message | The heightened tension has also drawn attention from outside the sports world. Last week, 11 Republican lawmakers sent a letter to Commissioner Engelbert alleging that Clark faces racially motivated hostility and violence, suggesting the league has failed to hold players accountable for physical incidents on the court. As of Tuesday, the Las Vegas Aces, the Minnesota Lynx, and the WNBA had not responded to requests for comment regarding the most recent wave of abuse. Multiple social media accounts associated with the individual who sent the message to Gray were deactivated shortly after the incident became public.
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