The closer the WNBA gets to the playoffs, the harder it seems to keep the conversation about basketball. A season that has already produced one controversy after another has seen the spotlight repeatedly shift from what happens on the court to what unfolds around it. The latest one concerns the Dallas Wings.

After covering the Wings and other teams for Dallas Hoop Journal, Roundtable Network, and Ballislife.com, reporter Grant Afseth has stepped away from covering the Dallas Wings. The decision came after he received a series of troubling messages that ultimately crossed a far more serious line, with threats directed at his family.

Wings head coach Jose Fernandez didn’t spend the final moments of his press conference talking about the team’s 94-88 win over the Toronto Tempo. Instead, he chose to turn the conversation toward Afseth, directly addressing what had happened to the reporter.

“A very talented reporter. Passionate, talented, prepared. It’s really sad that he’s not in this room like he should. Because what he went through, nobody that covers any sports team should go through. And it’s really disappointing,” he told reporters in a clip shared by freelance journalist Drake Keeler on X.

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“Grant was at every road game, as you know; he was always in here. Not biased at all. Did his research. I wanted to share that because he will be missed, and hopefully with your all support and with our support, we can get him back in here doing what he loves to do because he really cared about the Dallas Wings. And nobody should go through what he went through.”

The harassment reportedly stemmed from Afseth’s coverage of No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd, with the reporter later sharing a screenshot of a message in which a fan threatened to track him and his family down and “cut their he-ds o-f.”

“I’ve covered plenty of star athletes and this is the only instance this has happened. So there’s your answer,” Afseth said in a post on X, and explained that the message screenshot he shared was not an isolated incident.

He also clarified that while he was completely stepping away from covering the Dallas Wings, his team would continue to cover the team, including updates about games and more.

“I’m not currently reporting on the Wings in person. My website now writes about every Dallas team, so we’ll have articles on the Wings even though I’m not there. I don’t consider that setup regular enough to say I’m “covering” them. I’m refraining from tweeting beyond links, too,” Afseth posted on X.

Following Afseth revealing the situation, Sara Jane Gamelli, the managing editor at Ballislife.com, came to his defense, highlighting the integrity and professionalism he has maintained in his coverage.

“He is one of the few interested in covering the basketball aspect without any hidden agenda. I’ve truly never met someone more dedicated to his work/coverage + is on the road nearly 365.”

Fernandez also revealed that he has faced similar issues himself, saying his social media accounts have been hacked in the past. He suggested that if coaches are dealing with this kind of treatment, players are likely facing even greater abuse online.

“Even some of my social medias got hacked. So if that’s happening to coaches in this league, just imagine what players are getting,” Fernandez said. And he isn’t wrong about it.

The WNBA’s Troubling History With Player Safety

Social media has always served as a bridge between athletes and their fans, giving players a direct way to connect with the people who follow and support them. But as the WNBA has experienced unprecedented growth, it has become a place the players would rather avoid altogether.

Earlier this season, following an on-court altercation between Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark, Thomas revealed that she and her partner, DeWanna Bonner, had received threats and harassment, as well as racial slurs, and Chelsea Gray showcased an Instagram message she had received containing a slur as well.

These incidents created growing tension within the players’ union, with players voicing their frustration over what they saw as the league’s inability to address the issues. The mounting pressure eventually prompted WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to take action.

Engelbert later met virtually with the WNBPA’s Executive Committee and its Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee to discuss how the league could better support its players, describing the meeting as an “honest and meaningful conversation.”

The league has since begun rolling out measures aimed at making players feel safer, but there is still plenty of work to be done.

Putting the fan-related controversy aside, there was still a bright spot for the Dallas Wings.

Dallas Wings Finally Find Their Way Back to Winning

Since the All-Star break, the Wings have struggled to regain their momentum, dropping all three games they’ve played. One major factor has been the absence of rookie Azzi Fudd, who remains sidelined with right knee soreness. Without her presence on the perimeter, Dallas’ three-point shooting has taken a noticeable hit, falling from 34% before the break to just 29%.

But even without a key piece like Fudd, the Wings finally found their footing, snapping their losing streak with a 94-88 win over the Toronto Tempo. More importantly, the victory strengthened their grip on a playoff spot, with the Wings now sitting comfortably in seventh place with a 20-14 record.

Paige Bueckers led from the front with 22 points and 8 assists, while Arike Ogunbowale provided another 21 points to help Dallas get over the line. The victory also carried some historical significance, marking only the second time in franchise history that the Wings have reached 20 wins.

After finishing dead last last season with a 10-34 record, this turnaround represents a remarkable step forward for Jose Fernandez and his team.

The Wings will next turn their attention to the Indiana Fever, hoping to carry this momentum into their next challenge. But there is another comeback the team and its supporters would surely like to see: Grant Afseth returning to cover the team.

Fernandez made his feelings clear after the game, hoping the reporter can eventually return to doing what he loves.

“Hopefully, with y’all’s support and our support, we can get him back in here doing what he loves to do because he really cares about the Dallas Wings, and nobody should have to go through what he went through,” he said.

Now, all the players and fans can do is hope that when the Wings take the court again, Afseth will once again be there to cover them.