Hilton Grand Vacations fired an employee it said was responsible for the racist message Chelsea Gray shared after the Las Vegas Aces’ loss to the Indiana Fever.
Gray posted a screenshot Monday showing a direct message that attacked her appearance and used a racial slur. She said it arrived after Las Vegas’ 109-75 loss Sunday.
“People act like we just make this s— up,” Gray wrote. “And the audacity to tell us as athletes to ‘shut up and dribble.’”
Online pressure prompts review
Social media users examined the account and connected it to a Hilton Grand Vacations employee. Some also sent emails and social media messages to the company.
Hilton Grand Vacations first said it was investigating.
“Thank you for bringing this to our attention,” the company wrote on X. “The behavior described does not reflect our company’s values. We take these concerns seriously and will take appropriate action based on the findings of our review.”
The company later announced the firing.
“The person responsible for posting this information is no longer with the company,” Hilton Grand Vacations said. “His behavior was in violation of multiple company policies and does not reflect our company’s values in any way.”
Firing does not end issue
As of publication, the WNBA had not issued a public statement or posted on its official website or X account about the message sent to Gray.
The firing brings a direct consequence in one case of online abuse. However, it does not resolve the broader problem facing WNBA players.
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas recently said she and her family received racist abuse and death threats after an incident involving Caitlin Clark.
Gray’s post showed how quickly the same hostility can attach itself to another player and another disputed play.
Hilton addressed one employee. The culture producing such messages remains a leaguewide concern.
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Racist message to Chelsea Gray exposes WNBA’s online problem
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
