A medical equipment supplier has terminated an employee after Los Angeles Sparks forward
The controversy surfaced on August 24 when Hamby shared a screenshot of a message sent to her personal phone number at 6:25 a.m. The text contained a racial slur and compared the 32-year-old athlete to an animal, accompanied by a monkey emoji. Hamby posted the message to her social media followers, asking for help identifying the sender. Following the post, users online traced the phone number to an employee at
Company Response and Investigation
Acclaro Medical initially placed the employee on suspension on August 25 while the investigation into the incident proceeded. Following the conclusion of that review, the company confirmed that the staff member had been dismissed. In an official statement released on social media, the firm stated that it condemns racism, harassment, and discriminatory behavior in all forms. The company further emphasized that the actions and comments of the former employee did not align with the organization's professional values or standards.
Ongoing Concerns Regarding Online Harassment
The incident involving Hamby is part of a broader pattern of online abuse directed at WNBA players. The league has faced increasing scrutiny as athletes have become more vocal about the harassment they endure away from the basketball court. In July, Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray also publicly exposed racist direct messages she had received, an incident that similarly resulted in the sender losing their employment.
Other players have reported severe harassment following high-profile on-court events. In June, Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas spoke out about receiving death threats and racist messages after she was suspended for a game following a physical altercation with Caitlin Clark. These recurring incidents have highlighted the challenges players face regarding their personal safety and the prevalence of abusive behavior on digital platforms. While the identity of the sender in Hamby’s case was confirmed through social media investigation, it remains unclear how the individual originally obtained the athlete's private contact information.
