A fan supporting Caitlin Clark was ejected from the Connecticut Sun versus Indiana Fever game on July 15 after an exchange with rookie Saniya Rivers. The fan, later identified as Officer William Reilly, who was off duty at the time, was removed from TD Garden due to making an inappropriate remark toward Rivers. This incident sparked widespread anger among viewers and fans alike.
Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter confirmed the man’s identity and emphasized that there have been no formal complaints filed regarding misconduct.
“Officer Reilly was off-duty, and there aren’t any formal complaints of misconduct,” Porter said.
Meanwhile, Officer Reilly’s union president, Salemme III, described the comment as “innocent fun,” a statement that only further inflamed reactions on social media platforms.
Strong Backlash Over Union’s Defense of Off-Duty Officer
Attorney Alex Taubes criticized the police union’s defense of Officer Reilly’s behavior, expressing skepticism about the claim of “innocent fun” and highlighting concerns about police accountability in Bridgeport.
“An off-duty Bridgeport cop got tossed from a WNBA game for saying something so inappropriate Saniya Rivers had him removed — and the union calls it “innocent fun.” If it was innocent, it’d be repeated. This is Bridgeport “accountability” for police in action.”
In response to Taubes’ comments, many fans flooded social media demanding stronger consequences for the officer, including calls for a lifetime ban from all WNBA games.
“F*** William Reiley. He should be banned for life from all wnba games,” one fan stated.
Other fans voiced differing opinions, with some unfairly blaming Caitlin Clark for the behavior of her supporters, while others demanded transparency and calls for Reilly’s termination if his remarks were racist. A few users even argued that certain players in the WNBA might benefit from additional sensitivity training.
Saniya Rivers Maintained Composure After Incident
Despite the heated reaction online, Saniya Rivers remained composed and upbeat following the altercation. Speaking to reporters after the game, she joked about the fan’s removal, saying he had wasted money on his seat only to be asked to leave.
all that money on a seat just to get tossed.
On the court, the Indiana Fever defeated the Connecticut Sun 85-77. Kelsey Mitchell led the effort with 20 points, while Caitlin Clark contributed a solid performance of 14 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Rivers had a challenging night statistically, finishing with eight points, five rebounds, and three assists, shooting 4-for-10 from the field. Her season averages stand at 7.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.
The Connecticut Sun have struggled this season, holding only four wins so far, and will next face the New York Liberty on Friday as they aim to improve their record.