WNBA players slam their OWN fans over their 'disgusting' abuse throughout the season

The Chicago Sky were eliminated from playoff contention in Connecticut on Thursday, putting the proverbial final nail in a season that began with the promising arrivals of rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.

Making matters worse, veteran Sky players Dana Evans and Isabelle Harrison explained, was a torrent of fan vitriol aimed at themselves and their teammates. And it wasn't necessarily coming from fans of Caitlin Clark and the rival Indiana Fever, but by their own supporters in Chicago.

'I'll be honest, it was tough. It was really tough,' Evans said after the Sky fell to the Connecticut Sun in the season finale. 'We're professionals. We know that we can play this game, but when you've got people that's steady bashing you that's supposed to be our supporters, I feel like that was a little slap in the face.

'That was kind of hard to deal with. It was really disgusting.'

To Harrison, who, like Evans, is African American, much of the hate took the former of 'bigotry and racism.'

'I've never experienced this much hate and harassment, this entire season.' Harrison said, appearing to hold back tears. 'I get emotional about it.'

Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon moved behind Harrison to offer her player support as she continued to address the question.

'It's hard because it should have never been like that,' Harrison said. 'You just want to play basketball. If it's online, it's online. But you now get tagged in it. I'm constantly having to block people, and people are just making narratives about you. It's hurtful. And it's hard to just focus on basketball.'

Chicago, which had once seemed destined to book a playoff berth, dropped the last five contests of the season while finishing two games out of the eighth and final playoff spot. Both Reese (wrist) and Cardoso (shoulder) ended their seasons with injuries, as did veteran stars Diamond Deshields (ankle) and Chennedy Carter (foot).

While Evans pointed the finger at Sky fans, Reese previously claimed to be the target of 'racism' and 'death threat's from Clark's fans across the country.

'If you're going to support the Sky, support the Sky,' Reese said earlier this month. 'I feel like that was a big issue. It messes with your mental. I don't care how good you are or what's going on. You're gonna see stuff, you're gonna read stuff. But this, it made us better and a lot stronger up here.'

Carter has also faced criticism from Clark fans after a hard foul on the Fever star earlier in the season.

The foul drew condemnation for being 'too rough' - with Carter's coach saying that it was 'not appropriate'