Indiana Fever GM Amber Cox pushed back on criticism of the team's fanbase after A'ja Wilson's confrontation with a spectator during the playoffs.
Indiana Fever general manager Amber Cox defended the team's fanbase at her end-of-season news conference Saturday morning in Indianapolis, four days after Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson confronted a fan behind the baseline in Game 2 of the teams' first-round series.
Cox said she was speaking about members of the media who have never attended a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
"The attacks on our fanbase have no basis in reality, and they need to stop," Cox said, "especially with members of the media. ... I'm talking about media who have never been to a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Every organization in the league, every organization throughout professional sports, all the way down to youth rec leagues, have to deal with occasional bad behavior from spectators. And anyone who crosses the line in an arena or online needs to be held accountable. I want to be really clear about that. There is a line, and people need to be held accountable if they cross it.
"But here's the fact: We did not have one fan pointed out by a player who violated the WNBA code of conduct this season," Cox continued. "Not one fan was removed from a game. ... Our fans love this team. They're going to cheer, they're going to boo, and sometimes they might point. It's a home-court advantage for a reason, and it's the same for the Pacers. And all of that is within the code of conduct."
Wilson Incident Sparked Debate Around Fever Fans
Wilson crossed the baseline during Tuesday's Game 2 to admonish a fan who had stood, pointed at her, and directed words at the four-time MVP. Officials gave Wilson a technical foul. The fan was escorted out of the arena bowl and later allowed to return.
Arena security said the fan had not violated the code of conduct. The league did not discipline Wilson, according to The Associated Press.
Wilson said the man had been taking steps toward her and pointing at her, and she called it "unacceptable." After Game 3, she said she is human, that she has her "moments," and that she wanted to move on from the incident.
Indiana won Game 2 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to send the series back to Las Vegas.
On Aug. 6, two fans were escorted from their courtside seats at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during a game against the Aces after Jackie Young told an official they had been "chirping" at her all game. The two fans were not ejected. It was determined that they had not violated the fan code of conduct, ESPN reported.
Brianna Turner Pushes Back on Cox's Comments
Brianna Turner, who played for the Fever before joining the Aces, serves as treasurer of the Women's National Basketball Players Association.
Turner said on social media that not every Indianapolis fan is the problem, but the behavior is a trend.
"This is an unequivocally false statement," Turner wrote. "Players inside and outside the organization have repeatedly issued complaints with the Fever fanbase. While it's not all Indy fans, it's certainly a trend. To say the attacks have 'no basis in reality' is disingenuous."
Turner and Caitlin Clark each picked up a technical foul just over three minutes into Game 3. The Fever were huddled on the court when Turner worked her way into the group, and Clark shoved her out, The Associated Press reported.
Kelsey Mitchell set the WNBA single-season records for points scored and 3-pointers made this season. She is now an unrestricted free agent and said Saturday she will be "selfish" when making her decision.
People need to give Fever players grace, in Mitchell's view.
"I don't think people really understand how much we endure, man," Mitchell said. "Like, if I showed y'all my DMs about the hate and all of the stuff that comes with being a professional athlete, but specifically being an Indiana Fever basketball player, it's a lot that goes into that. And those days are hard as hell, man.
"Playing with [Caitlin Clark] and having the eyes that she's got [on her], we get a lot of flak just from being on her team," Mitchell added. "I think that that comes with a lot too. And I just think that people [have] got to give us grace. I think this organization is unbelievable, man. But I think that when it comes to, like, really trying to be yourself, it hasn't always been easy."
Cox Says Broad Criticism of Fanbase Is Unfair
Most nights, Cox walks out to 17,000 people cheering at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
"I think there have been, obviously, during our playoff series, some narratives around our fanbase that just, frankly, are not true," Cox explained. "And I thought it was important to say that no one has ever violated that fan code of conduct. We take it very seriously. We understand that there is a line. People are held accountable if they cross it, and they should be.
"But we have a great fanbase," Cox noted. "Night in and night out, I walk out and there's 17,000 people cheering us on, and they're spending hard-earned money to come here. There are little kids, boys and girls, who are being inspired by our team and by our league. So to be characterized in such a broad stroke is just not fair."
Wilson opened the series with 38 points and 16 rebounds in Game 1. She had 36 points and 10 rebounds Thursday, when the Aces won Game 3, 94-83, to end Indiana's season.
