The incidents involving Reese and Thomas underscore the need for change, not just in sports, but in how Black women are treated in general.

Following Game 2 of the first-round series, Sun star Alyssa Thomas called on the league and the Fever to crack down on the misbehavior of one swath of fans who have been abusive toward Clark's opponents across her rookie year -- specifically those who have done so with a sometimes subtle, and other times obvious, undertone of racism.