WNBA commissioner criticized over failure to condemn abuse around Reese and Clark
WNBA players and their union have criticized recent comments by league commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who failed to condemn fans’ racist and bitter criticism of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
Engelbert appeared on the CNBC program Power Lunch on Monday and was asked by host Tyler Mathisen about what he called the “darker” tone being taken by fans on social media, with topics of race and sometimes sexuality coming into conversation about a league where the majority of players are black and many are gay.
“How do you try to stay ahead of that, try to contain it or behave as a competition when two of your most visible players are involved — not personally, it seems, but their fans are involved — in saying some very unkind things about the other?” Mathisen asked.
Engelbert responded by saying, “There’s no apathy anymore. Everybody cares. It’s kind of that Bird Magic moment if you remember back in 1979, when those two rookies came in from a big college rivalry, one white, one black. And so we have that moment with these two.
“But the one thing I know about sports is that you need rivalry. That’s what keeps people watching. They want to see big games between rivals. They don’t want everyone being nice to each other.”
WNBPA Executive Director Terri Jackson issued a statement Tuesday disagreeing with Engelbert’s comments.
“This is the answer the Commissioner should have given to the very clear question about the racism, misogyny and harassment experienced by players: There is absolutely no place in sport – or in life – for the vile hatred, racist language, homophobic comments and misogynistic attacks our players face on social media,” the statement read.
The union’s statement went on to say that fans “should elevate the game, not tear down the people who bring it to life.”
Engelbert clarified her initial comments on social media late Tuesday night, writing, “To be clear, there is absolutely no place for hate or racism of any kind in the WNBA or anywhere else.”
Clark and Reese have brought the WNBA back into the spotlight this season with increased attendance and television ratings. The two have been rivals on the court since their college days, when LSU defeated Iowa in the 2023 national championship game.
Union Vice President Breanna Stewart, who has been with the union for nine years, said she was disappointed by Engelbert’s initial comments.
“Honestly, I saw the interview today and I’ve had conversations with Terri at the WNBPA,” Stewart said after a win over the Dallas Wings. “I’m a little disappointed to hear that because the way the fan base has grown, especially behind Caitlin and Angel coming to this league, but also taking the race aspect to another level.
“And you know, there’s no place for that in our sport. I think that’s really it. We want our sport to be inclusive of race, inclusive of gender, and really a place where people can be themselves. So we obviously wish that Cathy had used her platform in a different way, and made it a little bit better, by just telling the fans that enough is enough.”