In a move that has sent shockwaves through the WNBA and beyond, the Chicago Sky has become the first professional women’s basketball team to deploy national security-grade technology to protect its players from online abuse, threats, and harassment. Announced on July 1, 2025, the Sky revealed a first-of-its-kind partnership with Moonshot, a global leader in countering digital threats, marking a historic moment in the ongoing fight to keep athletes safe both on and off the court.
This bold collaboration represents a turning point not only for women’s sports but also for how athletic organizations address one of the fastest-growing dangers in the digital era. Moonshot, a company originally built to help the U.S. government combat terrorism and extremist content online, is now turning that same high-level technology toward protecting WNBA players — a demographic increasingly targeted by online hate.
“Hate and harassment have no place in sports,” said Nadia Rawlinson, Co-owner and Operating Chairman of the Chicago Sky. “Our partnership with Moonshot is about proactively tackling online hate, harassment, and abuse across social media and on the dark web, so our players and coaches can focus on the game of basketball and delighting our fans around the world.”
Moonshot’s security experts will monitor and analyze digital activity across platforms, flagging dangerous content, identifying credible threats, and taking immediate action to reduce potential harm. Their team will also work closely with the Sky to understand the deeper roots of online toxicity — from gender-based harassment to racially motivated hate speech — ensuring that prevention, not just reaction, becomes the norm.
The timing couldn’t be more critical. According to Moonshot’s global data, 92% of women in public life experience online abuse, with nearly one-third of those attacks being sexual in nature. WNBA players — particularly women of color and LGBTQIA+ athletes — have reported a rise in harassment parallel to the league’s surging popularity and the growth of sports betting and AI-driven fan engagement.
“The data is abundantly clear,” Rawlinson continued. “Female athletes face disproportionate amounts of online harassment and threats of violence. Unfortunately, these incidents are increasing along with the rise of women’s sports.”
The partnership between the Sky and Moonshot signals a new era of accountability — one where technology and advocacy meet head-on. Vidhya Ramalingam, CEO of Moonshot, emphasized the company’s mission: “We are honored to support the Chicago Sky in this pioneering effort. Our work is grounded in a decade of national security experience understanding the origins of online abuse and what to do about it. We hope this partnership becomes a model for other teams and leagues to follow.”
Beyond the immediate protection of players, the initiative also shines a light on a broader issue — how sports organizations must evolve to safeguard mental health and well-being in the face of digital hostility. For a franchise that has long championed empowerment and resilience, the Sky’s move fits perfectly with its identity: fearless, innovative, and unafraid to lead.
Founded in 2005 and crowned WNBA champions in 2021, the Chicago Sky continues to redefine what leadership looks like in professional sports. This latest move — bridging national security intelligence with athlete welfare — may very well set a precedent across all major leagues.
As women’s basketball continues to rise to unprecedented heights, one question lingers: if the Chicago Sky is drawing a new line of defense for its players, how long before the rest of the sports world follows their lead?
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