Man Sends Slur to WNBA Player After Loss, Is Fired

Hilton Grand Vacations has fired an employee who sent a racial slur via social media to Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray following the team's 109-75 loss to the Indiana Fever on Sunday. The 33-year-old Gray posted the message she received on her Instagram story on Monday. The Athletic reports it read, ""You suck a-- ugly a-- n-----," and that Internet sleuths then linked the man to his employer based on other Instagram posts. Hilton Grand Vacations confirmed to the AP on Tuesday that the individual who messaged Gray is no longer employed with Hilton Grand Vacations. "His behavior was in violation of multiple company policies and does not reflect our company's values in any way," it said in a statement.

The Athletic reports it was one of two weekend incidents: Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams was on the receiving end of a vulgar audio message following her team's 90-85 win over the New York Liberty on Saturday. The man who left the message was angry that Williams had lost him a bet by notching one assist in the game, rather than two.

The recent harassment comes in the aftermath of Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas saying she also received racial slurs. Thomas said she received death threats as well following her one-game suspension after she made contact with her fist to Caitlin Clark's throat during a 111-109 win against the Fever. Thomas also criticized WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not doing more to protect the league's players when she spoke with reporters in June at the team's practice facility. "It's unfortunate that it's come to this over basketball," Thomas said.