WNBA star shares racist text, alleged sender suspended from job

A Rhode Island-based medical supply company has suspended one of its employees after he allegedly sent a racist text message to Los Angeles Sparks star Dearica Hamby.

On Monday, Hamby shared a screenshot of a message sent by a number with a 516 area code. The sender called the 32-year-old forward a racial slur and an “animal” who should be put “in a zoo.”

The internet responded by determining the man’s apparent identity using a reverse search of his cell phone number. After many users alerted his employer, Acclaro Medical of Smithfield, Rhode Island, the company has taken action.

Suspension handed out

In a statement released to USA TODAY on Tuesday, Acclaro Medical confirmed the employee has been “suspended while an investigation is being conducted.” The company did not confirm the man’s identity, though the social media sleuths uncovered a LinkedIn profile for someone named “Jay W.”‘

“The Company takes his matter extremely seriously and is conducting a thorough investigation,” Acclaro Medical said, adding that the company “sympathizes with everyone who has been affected by this situation.”

Latest example of fan abuse

Hamby, a three-time All-Star, was ejected from Saturday’s game against the Connecticut Sun for an elbow to the face of opposing forward Raegan Beers. We’re guessing this act angered “Jay W.,” but there’s zero excuse to send a brutal and offensive message like that to a player.

This isn’t the first time WNBA players have called out offline fan behavior this season. Back in June, Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas said she and her teammates received death threats following her foul of Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark in a game.

Additionally, last month, Hilton Grand Vacations fired a man who sent a racist message to Las Vegas Aces standout Chelsea Gray following a 109-75 loss to the Fever. Gray posted the message on social media

“People act like we just make this sh*t up,” she wrote. “And the audacity to tell us as athletes to ‘shut up and dribble.'”

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