The WNBA is investigating allegations of “racial comments” directed toward Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese during the Sky’s 93-58 loss to the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis on Saturday. 

A report was filed with the league in response to racist remarks directed at the Sky team, specifically Reese, during Saturday’s game, league sources told Front Office Sports. League sources also stated meetings with both teams and WNBA officials are ongoing. 

“The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms,” the WNBA said in a statement. “They have no place in our league or in society. We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.”

Reese was on the receiving end of a Caitlin Clark foul in the final five minutes of the third quarter of Saturday’s season opener. As Reese went up for a layup, Clark committed a take foul—wrapping Reese up and sending her to the deck—to prevent her from scoring. Reese stood up and turned to Clark, who was already walking away, to express her displeasure. 

Teammates of both players stepped in to prevent tempers from flaring any further, including Fever forward Aliyah Boston, who was assessed a technical foul. Reese also received a technical foul, which offset Boston’s. After review, Clark’s foul was upgraded to a flagrant foul. 

‘‘Basketball play,’’ Reese said about Clark’s foul postgame. ‘‘Refs got it right. Move on.’’

In a statement, the WNBPA condemned the “hateful” behavior and said under the league’s new “No Space For Hate” policy they trust swift, appropriate action will be taken to ensure a safe environment for all. The Fever also issued a statement from Pacers Sports and Entertainment CEO Mel Raines, which said they are “working closely” with the WNBA to complete the investigation and are committed to providing a “safe environment for all WNBA players.” 

Fever fans have drawn heavy criticism from WNBA players over the last year and a half. Dallas Wings guard DiJonai Carrington shared a tweet last year while playing for the Connecticut Sun, saying the Fever had “the nastiest” fans in the league. Carrington’s former Sun teammate, Mercury forward, Alyssa Thomas, echoed those sentiments following the Sun’s two-game sweep of the Fever in the first round of the playoffs, saying in part she had “never experienced” that kind of treatment from a fan base in her career. 

“We don’t want fans that are going to degrade us and call us racial things,” Thomas said in September.  

The WNBA launched the “No Space For Hate” initiative in response to an influx of racism, homophobia, and hate directed at players during the 2024 season. The initiative is focused on promoting respect across all WNBA spaces, including in arenas and online. The league will be using AI technology to detect hateful comments online, will place an increased emphasis on safety measures, and reinforce mental health resources as part of its effort to protect players.

Scottie Scheffler won the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte on Sunday to seal his third major title and a tournament record $3.42 million first-place prize.

Scheffler, who has been ranked No. 1 in the world for two years, increased his career earnings to $81.9 million with the victory. He’s still fourth all-time, behind Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Phil Mickelson. Scheffler also won the 2022 and 2024 Masters and is now halfway to the career Grand Slam, needing to win the U.S. Open and the Open Championship (also known as the British Open).

His earnings in 2025 now sit at $10.1 million. Last season, Scheffler made $29.2 million in prize money, part of a record $62 million year when including the $25 million for winning the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup and other bonuses.  

The PGA Championship increased its purse to a record $19 million this year, up $500,000 from the $18.5 million in prize money in 2024. The purse ranks third among the four major championships, and is lower than the $20 million purses paid out at the eight signature events on the PGA Tour.

Bryson DeChambeau, tied for second, was the highest finisher from LIV Golf, which had 16 players in the PGA Championship field. Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann each finished tied for eighth. The league continues to operate without Official World Golf Ranking points. DeChambeau will defend his U.S. Open title at the next major of the season in June.

McIlroy finished tied for 47th, after coming into the PGA Championship as the winningest player ever at Quail Hollow. This was McIlroy’s first major since winning the Masters and completing the Grand Slam, but he was never near the top of the leaderboard.

Watch Party

Quail Hollow had sellout crowds over the weekend, after many fans and pundits criticized the PGA of America’s decision to host the PGA Championship at the course, which is a regular stop on the PGA Tour. Attendance on peak days was estimated to be 40,000.

Full TV ratings for the PGA Championship will be released later this week, but first-round coverage on ESPN on Thursday afternoon averaged 955,000 viewers. That’s down from the average of 1.1 million viewers for the first round of both the 2024 and 2023 PGA Championship. CBS had coverage of the third and final rounds.

Pimlico Race Course is set to shut down after a dramatic Preakness Stakes over the weekend, in preparation for a major demolition that will make way for a $400 million renovation at the historic Baltimore facility.

Journalism won the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes—the middle leg of horse racing’s triple crown—in a come-from-behind photo finish over Goser on Saturday. Journalism, which was the favorite at the Preakness after finishing second as the favorite at the Kentucky Derby, earned the $1.2 million first-place prize for its owner, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. Trainer Michael McCarthy and jockey Umberto Rispoli will each take roughly 10% of the winnings.

The thrilling race marked “one last time at Pimlico as we know it,” NBC announcer Mike Tirico noted during Saturday’s broadcast.

Earlier this month, Maryland authorities approved a long-planned project that will transform and modernize Pimlico, which opened in 1870. Next year’s Preakness Stakes will be held at nearby Laurel Park, before the race moves back to Pimlico in 2027, should construction go as planned.

Pimlico’s main grandstand and clubhouse will be demolished next month. Once Pimilico’s $400 million renovations are completed, Laurel Park will close and get a $110 million makeover, too.

Dollars and Viewers

The Preakness Stakes saw a record betting handle of $67.26 million, surpassing the previous mark set in 2021. The Kentucky Derby also had a record betting handle this year of $349 million.

TV ratings for the Preakness Stakes will be released later this week. NBC was looking to build on the momentum of the first leg of the Triple Crown, as the 17.7 million viewers watched the Kentucky Derby, the race’s highest audience since 1989.

The 2024 Preakness Stakes averaged 5.5 million viewers on NBC, which was up 7% from 2023.