The Indiana Fever’s WNBA Playoffs win over the Las Vegas Aces was not the main story coming out of Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday, September 29, thanks to a tense exchange between Aces superstar A’ja Wilson and a fan.
With four minutes remaining in the Fever’s 99-89 Game 2 win, a fan courtside appeared to stand up and point at Wilson, 30.
The reigning WNBA MVP then stepped toward the fan, saying, “You don’t point at me, you don’t point at me.”
Wilson’s teammates quickly stepped between her and the fan, who was then escorted from his seat before being allowed to return.
“Following a report of a comment directed toward a player, arena security spoke with the fan involved and witnesses,” the Fever said in a statement. “Security determined there was no violation of the Fan Code of Conduct, the fan was not removed from the arena. We consider the matter closed.”
Wilson was asked about the moment after the game, where she declined to reveal exactly what the fan said.
“I try to play my game … but if I am just walking, just got the foul, I’m chilling and I see a man come at me, taking steps toward me and pointing at me, I don’t give a damn what you said,” she said. “I don’t give a damn how you said it, the tone. That is unacceptable. You don’t step toward me. You never should sit and point at me. That there is unacceptable.”
She continued, “You don’t know me at all. To come and step toward me and point at me and say anything … you don’t have to like me, you don’t have to love me. You can hate me with all your heart. But you don’t know me. But I guarantee you will respect me.”
After the press conference, Wilson also told her coach, Becky Hammon, “No way he does that to LeBron [James],” according to ESPN’s Michael Voepel.
Speaking to the media, Hammon, 49, admitted she didn’t see exactly what happened.
“I kind of saw the aftermath,” she said. “I’ve never seen A’ja Wilson go like that. So whatever was done, I can tell you she felt very disrespected in that moment. I’ve never seen her really react like that, ever. So whatever it was, it doesn’t have any place, I don’t think, in an arena.”
Hammon continued, “There’s rules and procedures. I think there’s a certain etiquette that both players and fans need to abide by, but clearly the lines get crossed, and it seems to happen here. I can’t speak specifically as to what was said or what was done. But I can speak to the character of our players, and the stuff that they deal with. The disrespect — whether that’s a word or an action, a gesture — should be addressed appropriately. That’s not my job. It’s the job of this arena. So I assume they are following protocol.”
The Aces and Fever will play a decisive Game 3 on Thursday, October 1, in Las Vegas. The winner will advance to face either the Golden State Valkyries or Dallas Wings in the WNBA semifinals.
