"They have even told me that they hope my plane crashes"

BarcelonaTight game. Growing emotion. The Minnesota Lynx and Los Angeles Sparks are battling for victory in a very close match. Kayla McBride visits the free-throw line, at which point the entire arena hears the shouts of a fan. "Rickea!", he exclaims. He says it with so much energy that the television broadcast picks it up. Oblivious to the game's score, the fan implores Rickea Jackson, forward for the Sparks, to try and score more points because he needs to win his parlay bet.

The scene is not an isolated incident. WNBA players are asking for more protection. The threats and insults that angry bettors, when a game doesn't go as they predicted, hurl at athletes have grown to create a climate that, at times, is unsustainable. Harassment can be in person or through social media.

"It's normal for us to be insulted after every game. I've even been told they hope my plane crashes on the way home," said Natasha Cloud. Tired of receiving misogynistic and racist insults, she now reads death wishes. The Chicago Sky star is one of the players who has spoken out. "We want to be part of this business, it's good for the League, but we also need to be protected as human beings when we take off our jerseys," she added.

It is not an isolated case. Chelsea Gray, DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, Dearica Hamby, and Courtney Williams have also reported similar cases. "People act like we're making this shit up," wrote Gray, who attached a racist message from a Hilton Grand Vacations hotel worker, who was fired.

Bonner even showed screenshots of messages that included phone numbers and personal data of her relatives. Thomas, who usually receives racist insults, criticizes WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not doing more to protect the league's players. "It's a shame it's come to this for basketball. We're being threatened with death. It's really unacceptable. It's something that has to change in this league and I'm sick and tired of it," said Thomas.

Despite the players' frustration, the WNBA is pursuing agreements with betting companies more aggressively than ever. Bettors' money doubled at major betting companies last season, coinciding with Caitlin Clark's debut, and has continued to increase this campaign. The North American competition has agreements with at least seven betting companies.

Latest controversy

Before Wednesday night's game between the Atlanta Dream and the Dallas Wings, the WNBA posted a video on social media showing Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers making a friendly $400 bet. The post was quickly deleted, but not before X users took screenshots and recordings, allowing the scene to spread.

"While the social media post was intended to be lighthearted, WNBA players are well aware of the League's policies prohibiting betting on WNBA games and receive training each year that reinforces these policies," the WNBA said in a statement. "We recognized that the post was not appropriate, took it down shortly after it was posted, and addressed the matter internally. We will also use this as an opportunity to re-emphasize with the players involved that conversations about betting on WNBA games, even when intended as a joke, can have negative consequences," it continued.