Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark called out the online racism and hate faced by WNBA players during her exit interview on Friday following her team’s playoff exit.

“It’s definitely upsetting. Nobody in our league should be facing any sort of racism – hurtful, disrespectful, hateful comments and threats. Those aren’t fans, those are trolls, and it’s a real disservice to the people in our league, the organization, the WNBA,” Clark said.

“But there are a lot of really good fans, whether they’ve been fans for 20-plus years, or whether they’re new fans in our league. I think continuing to uplift this league in a very positive light is the best thing that we can do because there are so many great players. There are so many great teams. There are so many positive storylines that can be written and celebrated, and for me that’s why I became a fan of this league.

“These people were my idols. I grew up wanting to be like them, so I think continuing to uplift and represent this league in a positive way is the best thing that we can do going forward.”

WNBA players have continued to speak on how the surging popularity of the women’s basketball league has opened the door for harassment, prompting veterans to call for officials to do more to address racist and sexist abuse.

The addition of Clark to the WNBA this year helped drive record viewership and attendance, and the league found itself more firmly embedded in mainstream US sports culture, where racism and misogyny remain prevalent.

The issue has come to a head during the ongoing WNBA playoffs.

“I don’t appreciate the new fans that sit there and yell racial slurs at myself, my teammates and the people that I play against,” Brittney Griner said on Thursday evening, a day after her Phoenix Mercury were eliminated from the postseason by the Minnesota Lynx.

“I do appreciate the new fans that respect the game that are here to grow our league.“

The Connecticut Sun’s five-time All-Star Alyssa Thomas said the abuse she received from Indiana fans during the playoffs was like nothing she had experienced before in her 11 years with the WNBA.

“It’s unacceptable, honestly,” Thomas told reporters on Wednesday, after the Sun swept Clark’s Fever in the best-of-three series. “There’s no place for it.“

The Sun will next play the Lynx in the semi-finals.

The WNBA issued a statement on Wednesday night condemning racist abuse by fans.

“While we welcome a growing fan base, the WNBA will not tolerate racist, derogatory, or threatening comments,” the league said in a statement.

“League security is actively monitoring threat-related activity and will work directly with teams and arenas to take appropriate measures, to include involving law enforcement as necessary.“

Griner called the statement “way overdue”.

“We all deserve to play in a safe environment,” she told reporters. “I deserve to be here and play and not have to worry about racial and sexist comments.”