UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Connecticut Sun All-Star Alyssa Thomas, head coach Stephanie White and Indiana head coach Christie Sides directly addressed the heated social media debate and racism players have experienced in the WNBA this season after the Sun won their first-round series on Wednesday at Mohegan Sun Arena.

“Honestly, it’s been a bunch of nonsense,” Thomas said. “I don’t think in my 11-year career I’ve ever seen (anything like) the racist comments from the Indiana Fever fan base. … It’s uncalled for and something needs to be done, whether they’re policing their fans or this league is policing (it), there’s no time for it anymore.”

The league released a statement X minutes after media availability for the Fever and Sun ended. During the game, a fan was briefly escorted from a courtside seat after Fever rookie Caitlin Clark reported the fan to officials in the first quarter.

“The WNBA is a competitive league with some of the most elite athletes in the world,” the statement said. “While we welcome a growing fan base, the WNBA will not tolerate racist, derogatory or threatening comments about players, teams or anyone affiliated with the league. League security actively monitors activity related to threats and will work directly with teams and arenas to take appropriate action, including involving law enforcement as necessary.”

Thomas’ response was prompted by a question about the Sun’s professionalism in “crushing the noise.” Suns winger DiJonai Carrington shared a screenshot on social media earlier Wednesday of what she said was an email sent to her. It used a racial slur and said the sender hoped someone would “rape you and chop your head off.” Carrington fouled Clark in Game 1 on Sunday, punching her in the eye. Both she and Clark were asked about it during practice Tuesday and said it was unintentional. It was covered by sports networks, as well as national news and entertainment.

“We’ve been professional through this whole thing, but I’ve never been called anything like I was on social media, and there’s no place for that,” Thomas said. “Basketball is going in a great direction, but we don’t want fans to belittle us and call us racist names. I mean, we see what’s going on in the world and what we have to deal with. We come to play basketball for a living, and it’s fun, but we don’t want to come to work every day and have social media blow up about stuff like that.”

The negative discourse on social media grew throughout the season, with much of it focused on plays and moments involving Clark. The Fever opened the season in Connecticut with a record 2.1 million viewers across ESPN’s platforms who tuned in to watch the leading scorer in NCAA history. Carrington guarded Clark and forced 10 turnovers in her debut, and cameras caught Carrington mocking a flop move. Other players who have been involved in physical contact with Clark have also said they have received comments directed at them.

“Sports is a microcosm of life and society,” White said. “We’ve seen a lot of racism, sexism, homophobia (and) transphobia throughout our country. Sports is no exception and it’s unacceptable to be honest.”

White, a TV analyst during the WNBA midseason, said the media collectively needs to “do a better job of preventing social media trolls from becoming a story.” She said the stories “need to be about what we’re doing and not about who’s being attacked (and) how they’re being attacked.”

“The narrative doesn’t need to be controlled by people who are just, you know, sitting on their keyboards and spewing hate and negative vitriol everywhere,” she said, adding that it’s not just her team, athletes or just the WNBA where this is happening.

Sides, Clark and Aliyah Boston met with reporters prior to the Sun’s availability. They have also been at the center of social media discourse, particularly during their 1-9 start to the season and from people angry about hateful comments toward opponents. Boston said she deleted social media early in the year because of the comments.

The teams were asked what she felt was important to say in the locker room after the loss and she said she was proud of them for the growth they had experienced amid all the adversity and outside noise they had faced “from Game 1 (of the season) until now,” including “made up” stories.

“There’s a lot of hurtful, hateful language and attacks,” Sides said. “And that’s unacceptable. It’s unacceptable for all of these guys. This is basketball and it’s their job, and they’re doing the best they can. And when it gets personal, that’s when, to me, there’s no reason.”

The WNBA Players Association and individual players spoke out against commissioner Cathy Engelbert earlier this month after an appearance on CNBC. Engelbert was asked about the “darker” and “more menacing” tone taken toward fans on social media this year. Engelbert later responded to the criticism, writing on social media, “To be clear, there is absolutely no place for hate or racism of any kind in the WNBA or anywhere else.”

Clark also spoke out against the racist and misogynistic comments in June.