WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Tuesday infuriated the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) when answering questions about racist and hateful comments some players in the league have received amid the rivalry between Kaitlyn Clark and Angel Reese.
Engelbert was responding to a question about the “dark” tone of fans' comments about race, sexual orientation and other topics outside of basketball.
“There's no indifference anymore. Everybody's interested. If you think back to 1979, it's a little bit like that Bird Magic moment, when two rookies came through a college rivalry, one white, one black, and they had that moment,” Engelbert said on CNBC's “Power Lunch.”
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks during the 2024 Changemaker Day event at Parsons Leadership Center at Camp South Mountain on July 18, 2024 in Phoenix. (Diane Chavez/The Republic/USA Today Network)
“But one thing I know about sports is that you need competition. That's why people watch. People want to watch important games between rivals. Not everyone wants to be nice to each other.”
WNBPA Executive Director Teri Jackson released a statement about Engelbert's comments, suggesting her response was off-base.
“These are the answers the Commissioner should have given to the very clear questions about the racism, misogyny and harassment experienced by our players,” Jackson's statement read.
“The vile hate, racist language, homophobic comments and misogynistic attacks our players have faced on social media have absolutely no place in sport, or in life.”
NBA legend praises Caitlin Clark's growth in rookie season
Player Caitlin Clark (left) poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected first overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on April 15, 2024 in New York City. (Sarah Steer/Getty Images)
“This is not an issue of rivalries or iconic figures fueling a business model. This type of toxic fandom should never be tolerated or allowed to continue. This requires immediate action and, frankly, should have been addressed a long time ago.”
“Now in my ninth season as director of the WNBPA, I am thrilled to see the growing interest in the WNBA over the past few years, particularly the surge in fan base sparked by this exciting rookie class led by Angel and Kaitlyn.”
“To our loyal fans who have followed the WNBA for decades, we thank you for your unwavering support. You know the history, the game and our players — you know us best. And to our new fans, welcome! Your energy and passion is recognized and appreciated. Together, we will continue to foster a sustainable and thriving future for the WNBA.”
Engelbert later attempted to clarify her remarks.
“In recent media interviews, I was asked about the darker side of social media and online conversations regarding WNBA rivalries and race. To be clear, there is absolutely no tolerance for hate or racism of any kind in the WNBA or anywhere else,” she wrote to X.
Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark (left) and Chicago Sky's Angel Reese watch a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 1, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
The rivalry between Clark and Reese began as women's college basketball national champions, and both had highly successful starts to their WNBA careers.
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But their play sparked a passionate discussion about the players.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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