Former ESPN star Jemele Hill is facing blowback online for her defense of Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson.
Wilson got into a heated confrontation with an Indiana Fever fan in Game 2 of the first round series. Wilson was hit with a technical foul, while the fan was not ejected. The Fever said that the fan’s conduct was not worthy of an ejection.
The fan was seen pointing and perhaps saying something to Wilson about the foul that she had just committed. Wilson took exception to the pointing.
“I’ve never seen A’ja Wilson go like that,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon said after their 99-89 loss. “So whatever was done, I can tell you she felt very disrespected in that moment. I’ve never seen her really react like that, ever.”
Wilson was not happy, according to Fever reporter Tony East.
“If I see a man come at me, taking steps toward me and pointing at me, I don’t give a damn what you said. I don’t give a damn how you said it, the tone, that is unacceptable,” Wilson said after the game. “You don’t know me to step toward me and point at me. I’m not for that (expletive) at all … That there is unacceptable. How he gets back in the game because they said he didn’t do anything, of course he did.”
Hill was among those defending Wilson.
“What just happened with A’ja Wilson and that Indiana fan? Whatever was said, it set A’ja off and she usually doesn’t react like that,” she said.
Hill added: “He pointed at her and walked toward her, and she let it be known that she is not the one or the two.”
Former ESPN star gets Community Noted on X
Hill quickly got Community Noted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“This is framed as though he walked on or near the court, when he took maybe half a step and was pulled back,” the Community Note read.
“Wilson entered the stands to confront him. This can all be clearly seen on video.”
Game 3 is set for 9 p.m. E.T. on Thursday.
