A racist text sent privately to Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby has now cost its sender a job and access to every WNBA event. Acclaro Medical confirmed that an employee identified by social media users after Hamby exposed the message is no longer with the company. The WNBA went further, permanently banning the individual from league games and events.
Hamby posted a screenshot on Aug. 24 showing a message from an unknown number that called her a "n*gger" and called her an animal. She left the phone number visible and asked her followers, “Anyone know this number?” Users quickly traced it to an Acclaro Medical employee and contacted the company, according to USA Today. Acclaro initially suspended the employee while investigating and publicly condemned the remarks. By Sept. 1, the company confirmed the person had been fired. How the sender obtained Hamby’s personal phone number has not been explained.
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The WNBA Has Already Acknowledged An Increase In Racist Abuse
The league backed Hamby after the sender was identified, saying it “stands unequivocally” with her and condemning the abuse “in the strongest possible terms.” The permanent ban also carries consequences beyond the employee’s termination. WNBA policy prohibits racist and abusive conduct, while direct threats against players can result in arena bans or referrals to law enforcement.
Hamby’s experience arrives during a season in which players have repeatedly pushed the league to take online harassment more seriously. In July, the WNBA and WNBPA publicly acknowledged a “recent increase in racist, hateful, and abusive messages directed at players” after league officials met with members of the players’ union. The WNBA committed to strengthening security resources as part of those discussions.
Chelsea Gray faced a similar incident earlier this summer when a Hilton Grand Vacations employee was fired after directing a racial slur at the Las Vegas Aces guard online. Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas has also spoken about receiving racial abuse and threats to her life. Those incidents have made player safety away from the court part of the league’s ongoing conversation about harassment.
