Players and Union Say WNBA’s Engelbert Dropped the Ball in Interview

In Indianapolis, WNBA players and their union expressed concern on Tuesday regarding recent comments made by Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. The remarks failed to address the troubling racist and abusive behavior directed at players amid the ongoing rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

Engelbert appeared on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” on Monday, where she was questioned by anchor Tyler Mathisen about the negative tone of conversations on social media surrounding the two prominent players. Mathisen mentioned that issues of race and sexuality had been integrated into discussions, leading to a disturbing environment for both players and fans.

In response, Engelbert shifted the emphasis toward the positive impact of the Clark-Reese rivalry, noting that it has significantly contributed to the growth of women’s basketball. She drew parallels to the historic rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, which she believes has the potential to engage audiences more deeply.

Engelbert remarked, “There’s no more apathy. Everybody cares,” highlighting the excitement generated by these competitive dynamics. She asserted the importance of rivalry in sports, stating, “You need rivalry. That’s what makes people watch. They want to watch games of consequence.” However, she also acknowledged the challenges posed by social media, advising players to ignore unwarranted negativity.

Later that evening, Terri Jackson, executive director of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, released a statement condemning Engelbert’s remarks. Jackson emphasized the gravity of the racism, misogyny, and harassment players face online. She stated, “There is absolutely no place in sport — or in life — for the vile hate, racist language, homophobic comments, and the misogynistic attacks our players are facing on social media.”

Jackson’s statement underscored the need for immediate and serious action against toxic fandom, asserting that such issues should not be overlooked for the sake of business interests. She expressed hope that fandom could promote the game instead of tearing down the individuals who contribute to its vitality.

As the Indiana Fever prepared to host the Las Vegas Aces the following day, Aces players voiced their disappointment with Engelbert’s comments to ESPN. Point guard Chelsea Gray articulated concern that Engelbert’s failure to directly address racism perpetuated a harmful message. Gray stated, “To basically be like, ‘Yep, we push it under the carpet that racism is OK.’ So not being direct and handling that, I think she did a poor job.”

Forward Alysha Clark echoed these sentiments, stating there was a missed opportunity for Engelbert to unequivocally denounce racism and misogyny, regardless of the league’s popularity or potential revenue. “Racism and misogyny, they have no place in our league,” Clark asserted.

The rivalry between Clark, a white player, and Reese, a Black player, traces back to their collegiate days at Iowa and LSU, respectively. They are among the frontrunners for this year’s WNBA Rookie of the Year Award and have shown mutual support despite the aggressive fan reactions directed toward them.

Unfortunately, some fans have engaged in harassment, targeting players with hateful, often racist, and misogynistic comments. Alysha Clark expressed her wish for Engelbert to denounce such behavior directly: “It’s taken a darker turn in terms of the types of comments and the vitriol that’s coming through to the players.” She lamented the lack of a clear condemnation from the commissioner.

Kelsey Plum, also a former No. 1 pick in the WNBA, described Engelbert’s comments as “hard to hear,” highlighting the essential difference between healthy competition and racism. Plum has opted to omit social media from her phone this year due to its toxic environment and praised both Clark and Reese for their composure amid the negativity.

Players from other teams reacted on social media, with Chicago Sky forward Michaela Onyenwere posting, “Yikes.” Another teammate, Brianna Turner, emphasized the importance of standing against all forms of discrimination: “No platform is too big or too small to stand for the right thing. No excuses.”

While acknowledging that Engelbert may have missed an opportunity to clarify her stance, Plum remained hopeful that the commissioner would have future chances to address these critical issues. Jackson and other players reiterated the core values of the WNBA, clearly stating that racism, in any form, is intolerable and should not be justified in pursuit of growth.

Jackson emphasized, “Racism, and the toll it takes on everyone, is NEVER tolerable.” Alysha Clark added that this is not the atmosphere they want for fans or young athletes, asserting that it is vital to foster an accepting and supportive environment.

In light of the current circumstances, Plum remarked, “Our women are very grounded and centered,” asserting that the essence of the league is rooted in inclusion and compassion. “We don’t stand for any of that,” she declared, driving home the point that the majority of players advocate for an atmosphere devoid of hatred.

Source: ESPN