Chicago Sky Taps Moonshot to Combat Online Threats to Players
The Chicago Sky has enlisted Moonshot, a firm specializing in countering online threats, to protect its players and coaches from harassment and abuse across social media and the dark web. As the first WNBA team to deploy such national security-grade technology, the Sky is grappling with a rising tide of online hostility in a digital era that amplifies risks for athletes.
Tackling a Digital Minefield
Moonshot’s team will use advanced tools to monitor, flag, and remove harmful content, while assessing credible threats and analyzing patterns of abuse.
The Sky’s move addresses a grim reality: 92% of women in public life face online harassment, with 31% of it sexual, per Moonshot’s data. “Our players shouldn’t have to endure this,” said Nadia Rawlinson, Sky Co-owner and Operating Chairman.
For instance, stars like Kamilla Cardoso, often targeted as women of color, face disproportionate vitriol, worsened by the $500 million women’s sports betting boom.
The technology aims to let players focus on basketball, but it’s not a cure-all. Social media platforms, where much of the abuse festers, often resist content removal, and the dark web’s anonymity poses steep challenges.
Still, Moonshot’s expertise, honed over a decade of national security work, offers a robust defense in a league where mental health is a growing priority.
A Response to Rising Stakes
The partnership comes as online threats surge alongside the WNBA’s popularity, with 2024 viewership hitting 9 million. Betting markets and AI-generated content fuel targeted attacks, especially against female athletes and LGBTQIA+ players. “The data doesn’t lie. Harassment is spiking,” Rawlinson noted.
The initiative isn’t without hurdles. Implementing such systems is costly, and scaling them league-wide could strain budgets, especially for smaller franchises.
Additionally, identifying “credible” threats amid a flood of online noise is tricky, and legal limits on content moderation may curb effectiveness. For now, the Sky is setting a marker, but the broader impact depends on execution and league-wide adoption.
“We’re proud to lead, but this should be a model for others,” said Moonshot CEO Vidhya Ramalingam.
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