Riley Gaines: Caitlin Clark's abuse rooted in jealousy, not race or sexuality
Riley Gaines addresses the controversy surrounding WNBA star Caitlin Clark, asserting that concerns for Clark stem from her exceptional talent, not her race or sexuality. Gaines suggests jealousy from other players is fueling the on-court abuse and the league's 'self-imploding' nature. She questions the double standards applied to different athletes.
On a night where Caitlin Clark went off on the court, Angel Reese went off ... off the court.
Is the WNBA a content machine, or what?! Credit where it's due, this league just won't quit. The summertime is their time, and they're not letting it go to waste.
Let's dive in.
Reese and the Atlanta Dream defeated the Toronto Tempo, 111-92, Friday night. Reese finished with 23 points on 7 of 11 shooting, adding 12 rebounds. She was dominant. I'm not here to disparage Reese's play on the floor, because it was excellent.
The stats don't lie. As they say, the numbers are the numbers. Well done, Angel.
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese talks with game official Tiara Cruse after a play against the Toronto Tempo during the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario. John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images (John E. Sokolowski/Imagn Images)
Now, it didn't come without controversy. You always need controversy in the WNBA, and it usually has to do with racism. That's the buzz word right now.
Reese and Tempo forward Nyara Sabally collided late in the game, with Sabally suffering a rib injury but ultimately being called for a shooting foul. She eventually had to be helped off the court.
While she was still down, Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello came over to plead her case to the officials, and a hot mic picked up part of the conversation.
That's when Brondello called Reese a "protected species," thus sending the WNBA world into a frenzy because, of course, it was deemed racial.
Take a listen:
Angel Reese pushes the narrative out of context
"Calling a black woman a species ..." one fan posted on X, to which Reese replied, "ARE WE SURPRISED?!" while also tagging Brondello in the post.
Right on cue! A tale as old as time.
Here's the thing: This wasn't a racist comment. Come on. Context, as always, is important when it comes to these things. Usually, that's when common sense prevails.
Sandy Brondello is Australian. A quick Google search would've shown that the term "protected species" is slang over there for someone who gets preferential treatment. Fans were quick to point that out on social media, by the way. But it fell on deaf ears.
Frankly, it shouldn't have even taken a Google search to figure that out.
"Protected species" is a sports term that's been around forever. It's used all the time in the NFL, specifically with quarterbacks.
Patrick Mahomes is a protected species. It's a running joke during NFL season because defenders seemingly get flagged if they breathe on him.
Tom Brady was a protected species.
LeBron James has spent decades getting calls with his Hall of Fame flopping. He's a protected species.
In baseball, veteran hitters and pitchers routinely get calls other players don't. Veteran players can be considered a protected species. There's a reason Justin Verlander gets a call on the corner when some rookie doesn't.
In college football, you could argue the entire state of Alabama was a protected species during the Nick Saban years.
Again, this isn't a new term. It's not a racist term. It's a sports term that has been around forever.
Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream looks on before a WNBA game against the Toronto Tempo at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Canada, on July 17, 2026. (Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
The problem? Angel Reese is black, and the internet has selective hearing. So, someone posts that she was called a "species," and then Reese peddles the narrative by reposting it with a sarcastic comment and a clown emoji.
That's silly. That's disingenuous. Frankly, it's dangerous.
Earlier this week, a fan got fired from his job because he allegedly sent WNBA player Chelsea Gray a racial slur after a game. She shared it on the internet, it went viral, and the man's job ultimately fired him.
That's fair. If you're going to play stupid games, you're going to win stupid prizes. The proof was in the pudding on that one.
Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream reacts after a 3-pointer during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Sparks at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Ga., on July 13, 2026. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
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But this? This is a non-story that Angel Reese chose to breathe life into by pushing the narrative to her 740,000 followers.
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Now, nobody is talking about her great game on the floor. Instead, they're only screaming "RACISM!"
Par for the course for the WNBA.
Zach Dean is a writer for OutKick.
