The Las Vegas Aces denounced on Wednesday the racist message sent to Chelsea Gray, with the team offering public support a day after Hilton Grand Vacations announced it had fired the employee who messaged the star guard.
A four-time WNBA champion and six-time All-Star, Gray shared a message containing a racist slur after Sunday’s loss to the Indiana Fever.
“The Las Vegas Aces organization unequivocally condemns the hateful and racist messages recently directed at Chelsea Gray,” the team’s statement posted on its social media accounts read. “We do not tolerate hate speech of any type, whether it’s online, in the arena, or anywhere within our community.
“We stand behind those who have the courage to speak up for ourselves. We are united with anyone who has been targeted with this type of unacceptable behavior.
“We stand with organizations, like Hilton Grand Vacations, that hold individuals accountable for racist conduct. We commend them for the swift manner in which they acted in addressing this matter.
“No athlete should ever face this type of abuse for playing the game they love.
“To all our players and the entire WNBA community, you have our unwavering support in fighting against all forms of racism, hate speech and harassment. You are all valued members of this league, and we stand with you today and always.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
