Screenshot asks WNBA fans: did a player condone a threat against Caitlin Clark?

The WNBA finally got people to pay attention.

Now, some of its players seem to be learning what comes with that attention.

Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes, also known as Tip Hayes, caused a stir on social media by contacting fans who trashed the league’s most popular player, Caitlin Clark. Hayes even appeared to laugh at a fan’s comment that appeared to be a serious threat to Clark.

All of this comes from a heated on-court exchange between Clark and Hayes during Friday night’s game (and postgame commentary).

Clark returned from a one-game back injury and helped the Fever beat the Valkyries, 90-82. He finished with 22 points and nine assists, while Hayes scored 19 points off the bench for Golden State.

In the third quarter, Clark drilled a deep 3-pointer at the logo while Hayes defended. Clark appeared to say something after the shot, and Hayes responded as the two exchanged words.

That alone is not a big problem. Trash talking is common in sports and part of the game. Clark is no stranger to trying to get into opponents’ heads with both his play and his tweets.

But this situation did not end in court.

Hayes later got caught on a hot mic before his post game media coverage saying, “They’re not going to start calling him bad. If they did, he wouldn’t even be playing in these games.”

It wasn’t clear if Hayes was referring to Clark, but given the context of the match and the online reaction to their exchange, many fans took it that way.

Then came Hayes’ social media career.

Screenshots circulating online appear to show Hayes interacting with fans on Threads after the match. In another exchange, a fan wrote, “I’m talking ish, b/c you’re nvr on my team…. but I was READY 2 support your crashOUT.”

Hayes replied, “lol ok.”

Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark exchange words after Clark made a three-pointer in the second half of a WNBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire)

One fan wrote, “Your composure was so much better than mine, I’ll tell you that!”

Hayes replied, “My growth is a gift and a curse but mostly a gift.”

Then came a post that got a lot of attention from Clark’s fans.

A fan wrote, “Listen. I have cousins ​​we don’t talk about who will ride in the morning if you ask them. Just let me know.”

Hayes replied, “😂 that’s true.”

Apparently, Hayes did not directly threaten Clark. The fan didn’t explicitly mention Clark in the post. But it seems more likely that the exchange is about the star player of the Fever. There seems to be a section of WNBA fans who really don’t like Caitlin Clark, despite everything she’s done to bring the league into line.

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But will the league take action against Hayes, or at least conduct an ethical investigation?

The WNBA has made a public point of taking those issues seriously. In May 2025, the league launched its “No Space for Hate” platform, which it described as an effort to “combat hate and promote respect in all areas of the WNBA,” including online speech and on-court behavior. The league said the program includes improved technology features to detect hateful comments online, additional security measures, mental health services and league messaging.

This unit has also shown that it can act quickly when allegations are made. After a May 2025 game between the Fever and the Chicago Sky, the WNBA investigated claims of racist fan behavior against Angel Reese near the court. The league later said it gathered information from fans, the team and stadium staff, and reviewed audio and video before finding the allegations unsubstantiated.

Last season, after Connecticut Sun players spoke publicly about alleged racism and threatening messages at the Fever-Sun series, the WNBA issued a statement saying it would not tolerate “racist, offensive, or threatening comments” by players, teams or anyone associated with the league.

So, if the WNBA is going to make “No Room for Hate” a central part of its social message, it shouldn’t be hard to ask if that standard applies here, too.

OutKick reached out to the WNBA to ask if the league is aware of Hayes’ social media activity, if it plans to review or investigate the posts and if its social media policy applies to player-fan interactions in situations like this. The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Golden State’s Tiffany Hayes has drawn scrutiny for social media activity that appeared to promote fan posts directed at WNBA star Caitlin Clark. (Getty Images)

The WNBA has benefited greatly from Clark’s fame. You’re driving ratings, selling tickets and jerseys and creating a national conversation. He has brought mainstream attention to a league that has spent years begging for attention.

But that attention also means that players’ actions will be scrutinized in ways they may not have been before.

The WNBA can’t have it both ways. It won’t be able to monetize the attention Clark brings and then cringe when players appear to encourage or laugh at the careless comments involving him.

The WNBA wanted to shine. Now we have it.

Some of its players may want to start pretending to know the people watching. Or, perhaps, they pretend that people are watching and this is the kind of message they want to spread.