A man who allegedly sent a racist message to Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray on social media has been fired by his employer.
Hilton Grand Vacations announced the firing in a statement issued to multiple media outlets Tuesday, one day after Gray posted a screenshot of a message to her on her Instagram account calling her a racial slur.
"The person responsible for posting this information is no longer with the company," Hilton Grand Vacations said in its statement. "His behavior was in violation of multiple company policies and does not reflect our company's values in any way."
Gray said in her post that she received the message after the Aces' 109-75 loss to the Indiana Fever on Sunday.
"People act like we just make this s--- up," she wrote in her post. "And the audacity to tell us as athletes to 'shut up and dribble.'"
"The Aces organization unequivocally condemns the hateful and racist messages recently directed at Chelsea Gray," the club said in a statement Wednesday. "We do not tolerate hate speech of any type, whether it's online, in the arena, or anywhere within our community. We stand behind those who have the courage to speak up for themselves. We are united with anyone who has been targeted by this type of unacceptable behavior. We stand with organizations, like Hilton Grand Vacations, that hold individuals accountable for racist conduct. We commend them for the swift manner in which they acted in addressing this matter. No athlete should ever face this type of abuse for playing the game they love."
The WNBA said in a statement released on Wednesday that it "stands with Chelsea and every member of our league."
"We unequivocally condemn racism and all forms of hate," the WNBA's statement said. "There is no place for this behavior in sports or anywhere, and we remain committed to protecting the players and fostering an environment built on respect and inclusion."
Gray's post about the message came two weeks after Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas said she received death threats and was called racial slurs in the aftermath of her one-game suspension after she made contact with her fist to Caitlin Clark's throat in a June 24 matchup against the Fever.
Thomas criticized WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not doing more to protect the league's players.
In March, the WNBA and its players' union agreed on a transformational new collective bargaining agreement. It sought to enhance security, improve technological support, reinforce mental health resources, enforce a stronger fan code of conduct and protect players through an anti-hate campaign.
"We're so concerned about the safety on the court, but time and time again, we're having people threaten our lives," Thomas said on June 30. "Leaking addresses out there. Putting crazy pictures that have nothing to do with basketball."
She added: "It's really unacceptable. It's something that needs to change in this league, and I'm just really sick and tired of it."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.