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WNBPA and players condemn Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for interview about race and rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese

The Women's National Basketball Players Association and several WNBA players spoke out against Commissioner Cathy Engelbert following her appearance on CNBC on Tuesday.

Engelbert was asked about the “darker” and “more threatening” tone some fans have taken on social media this season, particularly in reference to star rookies Caitlin Clark (white) and Angel Reese (black). According to the players' union and several players, her responses were inadequate.

In the show “Power Lunch,” Engelbert was asked, among other things, about the increasing harassment that players are exposed to on social media and the racist aspect that comes up in connection with Clark and Reese.

There have been many issues regarding this throughout the season that players have raised. Reese said earlier this month that some of Clark's fans have harassed her online, made death threats, followed her home, posted AI-generated nude photos of her and more.

Several other players have been harassed with ugly comments from fans after committing serious fouls against Clark this season. One person reportedly called Chennedy Carter a “ghetto bitch” at her team hotel after she rammed Clark with her shoulder. Diamond DeShields even shared a post from a person who said she hoped her spinal tumor would come back.

But instead of getting into those details, Engelbert focused on the on-court rivalry between Reese and Clark and how it helps the league grow, comparing it to the early rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in the NBA.

“There is no apathy anymore. Everyone cares,” she said. “It's a bit of the [Larry] Bird Magic [Johnson] Moment when you remember back in 1979 when these two freshmen came out of a great college rivalry, one white, one black. And so we have this moment with these two.

“But one thing I know about sports is that you need rivalry. That's what makes people watch. They want to see important games between rivals. They don't want everyone to be nice to each other.”

As for the social media aspect, Engelbert said her best advice is to just ignore it. Then she immediately talked about how companies and others are investing in the league now like never before.

The WNBPA immediately condemned Engelbert's comments on Tuesday evening.

“This is not about rivalries or iconic personalities driving a business model,” WNBPA Executive Director Terri Jackson said, among other things. “This type of toxic fan base should never be tolerated or left unchecked. It requires immediate action and, frankly, should have been addressed a long time ago.”

Many players followed this example.

“It's taken a darker turn in terms of the type of comments and the vitriol that players are displaying, and that's not OK,” said Alysha Clark, a forward for the Las Vegas Aces, via ESPN. “I wish [Engelbert] would have simply said: “This is not okay.”

“At the end of the day, we're human beings when we take off those uniforms, and that doesn't mean that just because we're athletes we automatically get to be subjected to that kind of commentary and hate. And so I think there's been a real missed opportunity here to put a stop to that and just say, 'We don't tolerate any of that.'”

New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart also addressed Engelbert's comments following their win over the Dallas Wings. Stewart said she was also involved in discussions with the WNBPA about Engelbert's comments earlier in the day.

“I think that's pretty disappointing to hear,” Stewart said, via ESPN. “The way that the fans have been incited, especially Caitlin and Angel coming into this league, but also the way they've taken the racial aspect to another level – you know, there's no place for that in our sport. We want our sport to be inclusive of race and gender and really be a place where people can be themselves.”

“We obviously wish Cathy would have used her platform differently and done it a little better. She's just telling the fans that enough is enough. Become fans of our sport and, as far as the newbies are concerned, join everyone, but don't be disrespectful. Because as a league we stick together and there is no room for that.”

Engelbert responded to criticism on social media late Tuesday evening and clarified her comments.

Engelbert was hired as WNBA commissioner in 2019 after serving for five years as CEO of Deloitte. She replaced former WNBA President Lisa Borders.

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