Napheesa Collier is worried about more WNBA players receiving the same toxic treatment from fans as Clark and Reese.
“Getting So Toxic”: WNBA Star Says Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Trend is Spreading originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese brought countless new fans to the WNBA in 2024, but many of their fans also came with a wave of negativity.
In 2025, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier has noticed the polarization of the fans starting to affect more players around the league besides the young Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky stars.
Napheesa Collier Calls Out WNBA Fan Behavior
On Thursday, the WNBA All-Star captain voiced strong concerns about the growing trend to Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe on their podcast, "A Touch More."
"You know what is kind of surprising and disappointing, honestly?" Collier said to her distinguished hosts. "It is getting so toxic, I feel like, in our league with a lot of the fans going back and forth."
No Longer Just Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese
The 2025 MVP frontrunner identified Clark and Reese's fan bases as the root of the issue, but says it has expanded beyond vile comments launched by fans toward the sophomore duo.
"Every game, it's just like hatred out there towards other players — not just Angel and Caitlin," Collier observed. "They are the OGs where people will get so polarizing with, but it's with everyone. People get so nasty."
Napheesa Collier talks about the hatred around the league, not just with Caitlin/Angel:
— AK (@Sudharsan_AK10) July 31, 2025
"It is getting so toxic in our league, just hatred out there towards other players, not just Angel and Caitlin. I feel like we are trending in a bad spot with that" pic.twitter.com/sxkB7Sa5Qc
Collier took issue with fans saying hateful things when she sees basketball as just a game that should unify people.
"I feel like we are trending in a really bad spot with that," the 28-year-old warned.
DeWanna Bonner, Candace Parker Controversies Keep the Conversation Going
You don't have to look much further than the night before, when all-time WNBA great DeWanna Bonner was booed by Indiana Fever fans in her first game after leaving the team.
Fans, coaches and players took sides over how much respect Bonner deserved from her former team — with the debate amplified since it involved the Fever's massive online following.
WNBA legend Candace Parker, who recently faced accusations of hating on Reese in the media, has been outspoken on the other end of the spectrum from Collier.
She has stood by her critiques of Reese, pushing for fans and media to treat female athletes like their male counterparts and stop shielding them from criticism.
Candace explains the challenges of analyzing women’s basketball 😓 pic.twitter.com/pV0gPXXCAg
— Post Moves with Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston (@PostMovesShow) July 31, 2025
Avoiding Hate, Not Criticism
Women's basketball fans must find a middle ground where they can fairly criticize players without crossing into the "hatred" Collier identified that so closely follows Clark and Reese.
The WNBA has done its job with the “No Space For Hate” platform, and now fans must do theirs as the league continues to grow.
Related: “Thank You DeWanna Bonner”: Fever Fans Sound Off After Win Against Mercury
Related: Angel Reese Turns Heads With New Demands for Chicago Sky
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
