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The WNBA will not further penalize A’ja Wilson for an incident involving a fan, a league source tells Front Office Sports, allowing her to play in Thursday’s do-or-die Game 3 between the Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever.
During Game 2 on Tuesday, Wilson, a four-time WNBA MVP, had an altercation with a fan seated courtside. The fan appeared to point at Wilson after she was fouled by Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, and Wilson approached the fan and said something before being restrained by her teammates.
The fan was seated in the second row behind the basket.
The Aces star received a technical foul for the incident, which occurred with the Fever ahead, 90–79, with four minutes left in the fourth quarter. Wilson was not ejected from the game, which the Fever ultimately won to extend the series to a deciding third game.
Crew chief Randy Richardson said in the pool report after the game that Wilson received her technical foul for “unsportsmanlike conduct.”
According to Section II. J. of the WNBA rulebook: “Any coach, player, or trainer who deliberately enters the spectator stands during the game will be automatically ejected and the incident reported via e-mail to the Commissioner.”
However, the source said the WNBA determined that Wilson was not in the stands, and was instead in the player escape lane beside the stanchion.
The fan was temporarily removed from his seat following the incident, but was allowed to return after arena security determined the fan did not violate the Fan Code of Conduct, the Fever said in a statement after the game. The league had the same conclusion after reviewing the incident, according to the source.
After the game, Wilson said that fan’s actions were “unacceptable.”
“If I am just walking, just got the foul, I’m chilling and I see a man come at me, taking steps toward me and pointing at me, I don’t give a damn what you said,” Wilson said. “I don’t give a damn how you said it, the tone. That is unacceptable. You don’t step toward me. You never should sit and point at me. That there is unacceptable.”
The Aces host the Fever for a decisive Game 3 on Thursday, with the winner advancing to the semifinals to face either the Golden State Valkyries or Dallas Wings.
