Hilton Grand Vacations announced on July 14, 2026, that it has terminated an employee who allegedly sent a racial insult to Chelsea Gray, a player for the Las Vegas Aces. The company stated, "The person responsible for posting this information is no longer with the company. His behavior was in violation of multiple company policies and does not reflect our company's values in any way."
Gray shared a screenshot of an Instagram direct message she received following a game against the Indiana Fever, which included an alleged racial slur directed at her. In her post, Gray expressed frustration, stating, "People act like we just make this s--- up. And the audacity to tell us as athletes to 'shut up and dribble.'"
The Fever defeated the Aces 109-75, with Caitlin Clark contributing 12 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. The game occurred amid ongoing discussions regarding racial tensions in the WNBA, particularly following a previous incident where Clark was punched in the throat during a game. This incident has led to increased scrutiny of the treatment of players in the league, with 11 Republican lawmakers writing to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to express concerns about racially motivated hostility towards Clark. The lawmakers noted that Clark has faced multiple physical incidents during games that they believe exceed routine physical play. Engelbert reportedly canceled an interview on "The Dan Patrick Show" last week, allegedly due to advice from the league's public relations team.