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Fever GM Says 'Attacks on Our Fanbase Have No Basis In Reality, and They Need to Stop'
Confirmed
In Short: Amber Cox, Indiana Fever general manager, defended the team's fanbase on Saturday during the end-of-season news conferences, saying, 'The attacks on our fanbase have no basis in reality, and they need to stop.
Amber Cox, Indiana Fever general manager, defended the team's fanbase on Saturday during the end-of-season news conferences, saying, 'The attacks on our fanbase have no basis in reality, and they need to stop, especially with members of the media.'
Cox's statement came after an incident during Game 2 of the playoff series against the Las Vegas Aces, where A'ja Wilson was assessed a technical foul after confronting a Fever fan who was pointing at her.
According to ESPN's Kareem Copeland, this was not the first such incident. Two fans were taken away from their courtside seats after heckling Jackie Young during an August game.
The third-seeded Aces eliminated the sixth-seeded Fever in the first round of the playoffs on Thursday, beating Indiana 94-83 in Game 3.
Cox emphasized that no actions by Fever fans this season rose to the level of violating the WNBA's fan code of conduct. 'We did not have one fan pointed out by a player who violated the WNBA code of conduct this season. Not one fan was removed from a game,' Cox said.
However, some players and commentators have expressed concerns about the behavior of Fever fans. Kelsey Mitchell, who had a career-best season with the Fever, said in her exit interview that playing in Indiana can be difficult at times because of interactions with some of the fans.
Mitchell added, 'I don’t think people really understand how much we endure. 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.'
Sports commentator Jason Whitlock took to social media to demand a statement from Caitlin Clark, who is serving as the guest picker for ESPN’s “College GameDay,” calling for her to speak against the alleged attacks on the Fever fanbase.
Cox acknowledged the international and nationwide reach of the Fever fanbase, saying supporters from 57 countries and all 50 states have attended games in Indiana.
Despite Cox's defense, some critics remain unconvinced. 'This is an unequivocally false statement,' Turner wrote on social media. 'Players inside and outside the organization have repeatedly issued complaints with the Fever fanbase.'
What's confirmed
- “The attacks on our fanbase have no basis in reality, and they need to stop, especially with members of the media,” Cox said.
- Fever GM Amber Cox Defends Indiana Fans Amid Controversy By Associated Press via Sportsnet.ca, 12h ago INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana general manager Amber Cox defended the Fever’s fanbase on Saturday during the team’s end-of-season news conferences.
What's still developing
- Wilson reportedly confronted a fan who was pointing at her after she was fouled by the Fever’s Sophie Cunningham.
- The Fever have drawn significant attention throughout the season, with the team’s fans also becoming a talking point.
- And anyone who crosses the line in an arena or online needs to be held accountable.
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- "I think during the playoff series, there were some narratives around our fanbase that just frankly are not true, 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 explained.