WNBA says A'ja Wilson avoided ejection after fan confrontation because she stayed in player escape lane
League officials ruled that A'ja Wilson remained within a designated player escape lane, not the stands, and therefore was not ejected during the Aces' playoff game against the Fever.
League officials determined that Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson was not ejected in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Indiana Fever because she stayed within a player escape lane adjacent to the basket, which is considered part of the court area. The decision came after an in-game review and a subsequent league review that also found the fan involved had not violated the WNBA Fan Code of Conduct.
Wilson received a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct after she approached a spectator near the baseline in the fourth quarter. Teammates intervened, and Wilson later said she felt the fan had stepped toward her. She apologized to her teammates for the technical foul.
"I don’t give a damn what you said. I don’t give a dam... that is unacceptable," Wilson said.
The WNBA rulebook requires ejection only when a player deliberately enters the stands beyond the first row of seats. Officials classified the area Wilson entered as a player escape lane rather than the stands, allowing her to remain in the game. While the technical foul carries a possible fine, the league has not announced any additional discipline.
Indiana won the game 99-89 to tie the series, with Game 3 scheduled for Thursday in Las Vegas.