WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is basking in the glory of the intense attention her league is receiving.
Whether positive or negative, Engelbert welcomes any and all discussion regarding superstar Caitlin Clark and the other members of W.
“Indifference means the death of a brand” Engelbart told USA Today.“Nobody is indifferent to the WNBA because we gained a lot of new fans this year, what we call the fan funnel. Of course, there are people who are frustrated. We’re getting a lot of emails that we’ve never gotten in four years, but that’s because people are interested.”
Many who tuned in this season did so because of Clark, a phenom who excelled in college and has carried that same star power to the professional ranks.
But Clark has also been gifted plenty of “welcome to the WNBA” moments since the start of the season, and her flagrant foul on Chennedy Carter during a game between the Sky and Fever in early June sparked a storm the likes of which the league had never seen before.
The shoulder check against Clark drew ire from Clark and Fever fans, resulting in numerous articles in newspapers across the country and a heated debate on sports discussion shows.
However, Engelbert denied the idea that Clark was being targeted by opposing players, pointing to a recent game between the Fever and the Mystics in which Clark scored 30 points and made seven 3-pointers.
“Has anyone said she was targeted in that fight?” Engelbert asked. “No, because everybody just wants the outcome they want. But it’s a great fandom. It’s a great debate and of course I think we’ll continue to rewatch and review fights after the fact.”
While some lament the excessive analysis of every game Clarke is involved in and the endless debate over whether she was being targeted, any discussion involving the WNBA is something the commissioner should welcome.
“They care enough to send me thousands of emails,” Engelbert said, “talking about the WNBA and playing physically. And it’s not just about Kaitlyn. Other players are saying, ‘Kathy, you’ve got to do this, you’ve got to do that.'”
“So people care, and I’m happy about that.”
Engelbert praised not only Clark, but also fellow star rookies Angel Reese and Cameron Brink, whose play has captured the hearts of basketball fans watching the WNBA for the first time.
The league chief said this season’s rookies are “probably adapting quicker than in the past.”
And Engelbart acknowledged Clark’s role in his sudden rise to popularity.
“She’s obviously building an audience that wasn’t there before, which is fantastic,” she said. “We’re excited about Kaitlyn and the generation of players that are coming in and we’re excited about the rivalries that are building.”
