First Take addresses racial comments, abuse directed at Alyssa Thomas

On First Take, Stephen A. Smith and Chiney Ogwumike address the abuse Alyssa Thomas received on social media and that she subsequently spoke about in her postgame press conference following the Connecticut Sun advancing past the Indiana Fever to reach the WNBA Semifinals.

#ESPN

[Thunderbolt]

Days like today are the days I wish Max were on the show

[russellstevens]

P.S. Max Kellerman wouldn't tap dance around the issue like Stephen A. does. He's such a "company man."

[BlazinAmazin]

Sigh. The reason you didn’t experience racial slander in 11 years is because no one followed or cared about your product before. These aren’t just Fever fans. This is the norm for athletes with celebrity profiles. There’s no “fixing” racial slander on social media. GET OFF SOCIAL MEDIA

[cedricspencer]

Stephen A didn’t say anything at all, professional tap dancer

[antwannethompson]

Did this man just say racial tension is worse now than in the 60’s🤣🤣🤣

[terri-lynncurrie]

The only thing is stop blaming CC for the ignorant comments!! She already said people should not be using her for their derogatory comments!!!!

[bigcurt]

Social media? LEBRON WENT THROUGH THIS HIS WHOLE CAREER. You can’t stop people on their own social media

[ColleenYourAccessme]

Caitlin Clark's whole life really is why she stays off social media... she still reads it but not like young adults constantly reading it. In high school she was chanted at by other schools that she is Over rated. She keeps her circle of small of people she knows she can trust. She has had to have tough skin. If she gets mad on the court I think it is her release. To me she is almost like a trauma patient with a deep love of sports. I admire and respect Caitlin Clark for not talking about all the online abuse she has endured and why she has had to have a body guard.

[mreddick]

Angel been told everyone about the bullying from social media, but nobody say nothing about that now. But now it’s a big deal now.

[cooljohn]

The Indiana Fever nor Caitlin Clark controls social media. Stop attaching Caitlin’s name to this crap. Caitlin has risen above all of the negativity and hasn’t said a bad thing about anyone.

[agentcarmichael]

Worse now than in the 60s??? 😂😂😂. If you believe that please pass me what you smoking.

[mrdgenerate]

Ok but dont call out the ratchet clowns assaulting Caitlin in the court... Or the any of the ridiculous hate towards Caitlin. Thats why ppl are clowning the rest of the league. Not race. Espn a JOKE.

[cjenen]

SAS said absolutely nothing!! Thankful for Chiney for speaking well on the subject with clarity, because Stephen A, I didn't expect much from him on this matter.

[Phillytall]

First, they are not Fever fans.

These are trolls and bullies who know they are getting a reaction and it’s covered nationally.

[wnbaLover]

Thanks to chiney for recognizing napheesa collier 42 points 🔥🔥🔥💯 great player recognize greatness.

[jcemberbreez]

I live in Indiana me and my wife walked to the gas station few months ago and some immature young adult screamed out his window the N word to us and this wasn't the first time it happen.There is some of the nicest people in Indiana but they have a lot of racist in Indiana.

[InterestSpy]

SAS…what was your point in that diatribe? I got nothing of value from that nonsense.

[dennisreynolds]

SAS has an extremely hard time calling out clear Racism but goes all in on " so called hate" on Caitlin Clarke everyday of the week. He's a Chump

[diogenes]

Get off social media if you don't like what internet trolls say. It isn't going to stop and trying to call out the trolls only makes them more vicious. I'm so sick of athletes and celebrities bitching about people being mean on social media.

[eddiec]

Why not talk about all the treatment CC has received during her rookie season? All the hard fouls because she was being targeted.