What happened: Dearica Hamby shared a screenshot Monday of a message she said came from an unknown number. The sender used a racial slur and called her an animal after her ejection from a game against the Connecticut Sun.
Why it matters: The episode renews concerns about racist abuse and access to players’ personal information. Chelsea Gray faced a separate racist message in July that led another employer to fire the alleged sender.
By the numbers: Hamby shared the message with nearly 50,000 followers on X. It is the second publicly disclosed case in two months in which an employer acted over alleged racist abuse of a WNBA player.
What to watch: Acclaro Medical’s investigation will determine whether the suspension leads to further employment action. Any response from the WNBA or Los Angeles Sparks could shape the league’s next steps on player safety.