Things got heated during the Fever-Aces first-round playoff matchup on Tuesday night — off the court.
Aces superstar A’ja Wilson got into a verbal altercation with a fan along the baseline of Indiana’s Gainbridge Fieldhouse during the Fever’ ‘s 99-89 series-tying victory in Game 2.
Late in the fourth quarter, while trying to get into the post, Wilson got tangled up with Sophie Cunningham, who was knocked down to the court.
Wilson then walked toward the basket and to the baseline, taking out her mouth guard while jawing and pointing toward a fan in the first two rows. Wilson eventually left the scene while her Las Vegas teammates went over to confront the fan.
When all was said and done, Wilson was assessed a technical foul.
The four-time WNBA MVP said she apologized to her team but called what the fan said toward her “unacceptable.”
“If I see a man come at me, taking steps toward me and pointing at me, I don’t give a damn what you said. I don’t give a damn how you said it, the tone, that is unacceptable,” Wilson said after the game. “You don’t know me to step toward me and point at me. I’m not for that s–t at all. … That there is unacceptable. How he gets back in the game because they said he didn’t do anything, of course he did.”
The Fever, in a statement after the game, said the fan involved in the situation was not removed from the arena because they did not violate the team’s conduct policy.
“Following a report of a comment directed toward a player, arena security spoke with the fan involved and witnesses,” the team said. “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.”
Aces coach Becky Hammon said she was more than surprised to see Wilson react the way she did.
“So whatever was done, I can tell you she felt very disrespected in that moment,” Hammon told reporters. “I’ve never seen her really react like that, ever.”
Prime Video analyst LaChina Robinson echoed similar sentiments on the game’s broadcast.
“You know something was said, because you don’t see that kind of reaction from A’ja Wilson. That is just not even in line with her demeanor unless it’s absolutely necessary,” Robinson said.
The series shifts to Vegas for Game 3 on Thursday night.
