"Should be banned for life from all WNBA games": Fans outraged as ejected Caitlin Clark supporter turns out to be off-duty cop

Indiana Fever v Connecticut Sun - Source: Getty
Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun - Source: Getty

A Caitlin Clark fan was ejected from the Connecticut Sun vs. Indiana Fever game on July 15 after an altercation with Saniya Rivers. The fan, who was wearing a Clark jersey, was escorted out of TD Garden for apparently making an inappropriate remark toward Rivers.

Ad

The man was later identified as Officer William Reilly.

“Officer Reilly was off-duty, and there aren’t any formal complaints of misconduct,” Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter said.

Michael Salemme III, president of the police union in Bridgeport, said the comment was made in “innocent fun,” a remark that was not well-received.

Attorney Alex Taubes called out the union, saying:

“An off-duty Bridgeport cop got tossed from a WNBA game for saying something so inappropriate Saniya Rivers had him removed — and the union calls it “innocent fun.” If it was innocent, it’d be repeated. This is Bridgeport “accountability” for police in action.”
Ad
Ad

Fans flooded the comment section of Taubes’ post, with one calling for the off-duty officer to be banned from all WNBA games.

“F*** William Reilly. He should be banned for life from all WNBA games,” one fan said.

Another fan said:

Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad

One fan, though, defended Officer Reilly.

Ad

Saniya Rivers was in good spirits following the altercation with a Caitlin Clark fan

Despite the disturbing incident and the subsequent fallout on social media, Saniya Rivers was in good spirits. While speaking to reporters, she joked that the fan had spent "all that money on a seat just to get tossed."

When asked about what was said, Rivers didn't give a clear answer:

Ad
“I’m not taking any form of disrespect. So if it’s a form of a threat, whatever it is, you’re out of there."

The Fever defeated Connecticut 85-77, following a 20-point game by Kelsey Mitchell. Caitlin Clark was also solid, finishing with 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Rivers, though, had a tough night, finishing with eight points, five rebounds and three assists on 4-for-10. She's averaging 7.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game this season.

The Sun have only managed four wins this season and will return to the court on Friday to face the New York Liberty.

Quick Links

Edited by Bhargav
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
down arrow icon
More
bell-icon Manage notifications