WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressed online hate directed at the league’s players at a news conference during the league’s annual All-Star Game on Saturday at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Engelbert emphasized that the league does not tolerate racism, harassment, or threats against its players and that the WNBA is set to implement initiatives to address the issue, whether on or off the court and online.
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However, her statement drew online backlash from the WNBA community, with some urging her to step down for her apparent mishandling of the league’s controversies, including the most recent officiating fiasco involving Caitlin Clark and Alyssa Thomas.
WNBA World Criticizes Cathy Engelbert, Urging Her To Step Down
Engelbert addressed the topic during WNBA All-Star Game media availability, noting that online hate directed at the league’s players has escalated in recent weeks.
“The racism, the misogyny, the homophobia, the harassment and threats directed to our players has no place in sport or anywhere else,”she said. “There’s more work to do, and we need to make sure we’re doing it.”
The commissioner noted that the league is set to introduce measures to protect players from online harassment and improve the player experience, both on and off the court and online.
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However, many on social media did not buy Engelbert’s statement, with some expressing their displeasure at her promise to address the problem.
One league enthusiast felt her promises were empty.
“Empty words from a soulless person,” they wrote.
Another WNBA supporter urged Engelbert to resign from her post.
“RESIGN,” the individual wrote.
Other fans seemed tired of the WNBA executive’s response to the ongoing situation, with a basketball netizen describing Engelbert’s statement as “generic.”
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“The same generic statement we always hear about racism, misogyny, and homophobia,” one user said.
Another sports netizen noticed Engelbert’s shift in tone on the issue, noting that she appears to be in dire straits, as some sections of the basketball community are calling for her to change her ways or face further backlash.
“She singing a different tune now cause [expletive] want her OUT but when she was first asked about a certain player experiencing all these things she referred to it as ‘good for the game’ girl bye!,” the user pointed out.
Meanwhile, another follower pointed out the timing of the commissioner’s statement, and the other fan could not help but notice her trembling tone as she spoke to the media.
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“It took Cathy job to be on the line for her to finally say the words ‘racism, misogyny & homophobia,’” the netizen said.
“Her voice was shaking. Was it nerves or something else 🧐,” another user highlighted.
During the press conference, Engelbert did not elaborate on the league’s actions to address the issue or on its plan to conduct a transparent investigation, but offered assurance that the league is following procedures to resolve the situation and that players are being reminded and reprimanded for violating the regulations.
