'Never experienced it': WNBA star Alyssa Thomas calls out racial abuse

Alyssa Thomas and Stephanie White said racist and homophobic comments directed at WNBA players need to stop.

The star player and coach commented after their team finished off a sweep of the Indiana Fever in the opening round of the playoffs on Thursday (AEST).

“I think that in my 11-year career I never experienced the racial comments like from the Indiana Fever fan base ... it's unacceptable and there's no place for it," Thomas said.

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"We've been professional throughout the whole entire thing, but I've never been called the things that I've been called on social media."

Thomas knows that the game has grown this year with many new fans watching on television and in the stands, but the All-Star forward doesn't want fans that are disrespectful to the players in the game.

“Basketball is headed in a great direction, but we don't want fans that are going to degrade us and call us racial things,” she said.

White defended her team and its players and delved into the full extent of the abuse.

“We've seen a lot of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia throughout the course of our country," the coach said.

"Sport is no exception, and it's unacceptable to be quite honest.”

White, who previously played and coached in Indiana, applauded her team and other franchises around the league for staying professional and not going back at the attacks.

“It's a lot of teams in our league and a lot of athletes, not just in our league that get attacked like this,” she said.

“We continue to encourage them to silence the noise, control what they can control.”

Indiana coach Christie Sides has seen her players get attacked on social media as well.

The league issued a statement on social media defending its players shortly after Thomas' and White's post-game comments.

“The WNBA is a competitive league with some of the most elite athletes in the world,” the statement read.

“While we welcome a growing fan base, the WNBA will not tolerate racist, derogatory, or threatening comments made about players, teams and anyone affiliated with the league.”

The statement said that the league would involve law enforcement as necessary.