Hilton Grand Vacations said it fired an employee who sent a racist message to Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray after a loss to the Indiana Fever. Gray shared the message publicly and criticized the ongoing harassment faced by WNBA players.
The incident adds to growing concern over online abuse in women’s basketball. It follows similar reports from other players and comes as the league faces pressure to strengthen player safety, anti-hate measures, and support resources.
Hilton Fires Employee After Racist Message Sent to Chelsea Gray
Hilton Grand Vacations has fired an employee after the person sent a racial slur through social media to Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray, following the team’s 109-75 loss to the Indiana Fever on Sunday. The incident added another disturbing example of the abuse WNBA players have faced online.
Gray, 33, shared the racist message on her Instagram story on Monday. In her post, she expressed frustration over the repeated harassment athletes continue to deal with.
“People act like we just make this shit up,” she wrote. “And the audacity to tell us as athletes to ‘shut up and dribble.’”
According to the news source, Hilton Grand Vacations confirmed that the employee who sent the message is no longer with the company.
“The person responsible for posting this information is no longer with the company,” Hilton Grand Vacations said in a statement. “His behavior was in violation of multiple company policies and does not reflect our company’s values in any way.”
Racist Abuse Adds to Pressure on WNBA Players
The Aces did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The incident comes at a time when the WNBA has already been dealing with concern over player safety, online abuse, and harassment directed at athletes.
In March, the WNBA and its players’ union agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement. The deal was described as transformational and aimed to improve several areas, including:
- security for players
- technological support
- mental health resources
- a stronger fan code of conduct
- an anti-hate campaign to protect players
The abuse directed at Gray also follows similar claims from Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, who said she received racial slurs and death threats. Thomas said the threats came after her one-game suspension, which followed contact between her fist and Caitlin Clark’s throat during a 111-109 win against the Fever.
Alyssa Thomas Speaks Out on Threats and Harassment
Thomas also criticized WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not doing more to protect players when she spoke to reporters in June at the team’s practice facility.
She said the situation had gone far beyond basketball and described the abuse as unacceptable.
“It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball,” Thomas said. “A lot of us – myself included – didn’t even know the play took place until after the game. Now we’re being painted as thugs. There’s death threats out on us. It’s really unacceptable. It’s something that needs to change in this league and I’m just really sick and tired of it.”
Growing Concern Over Online Hate in Women’s Basketball
The messages sent to Gray and the threats reported by Thomas show how quickly on-court controversies can spill into hateful online abuse. The situation has increased pressure on the league, teams, and social platforms to better protect players from racist harassment and threats.
For many fans and observers, the latest incident is another reminder that athletes should not have to face racial slurs or intimidation simply for playing the game. The response from Hilton Grand Vacations reflects how seriously such behavior is being treated, but the wider problem remains unresolved.
