WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is being criticized by WNBA players and fans after failing to speak out on the racist comments geared towards players this season. Englebet made an appearance on CNBC’s Power Lunch on Tuesday and was asked several questions on the rise of the league and the racist and homophobic social media comments hurled at players.
“But the one thing I know about sports, you need rivalry. That’s what makes people watch. They want to watch games of consequence between rivals. They don’t want everybody being nice to one another,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said.
Englebert continued to talk about the financial accomplishments of the WNBA’s league expansion and growth and the rivalry between the two rookies being the thing that draws the fans into watching. Many players and fans thought Englebert had the perfect opportunity to speak out about the racist comments and push back on the fans who have been hurling degrading insults at players, but instead, she decided to ignore the question asked by CNBC’s anchor Tyler Mathisen.
“There’s no more apathy. Everybody cares. It is a little of that Bird-Magic moment if you recall from 1979, when those two rookies came in from a big college rivalry, one white, one black. And so we have a moment with these two,” Englebert said in response.
Following Engelbert’s statement, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) and players have spoken out about their disappointment. WNBA players like Breanna Stewart, Kelsey Plum, and Chelsea Gray have all criticized Engelberts comments. In a post game interview after the Liberty’s win over the Wings, Stewart called Engelberts statement disappointing to hear.
“We wish Cathy would have used her platform in a different way and have made that a little bit better. Just telling the fans enough is enough,” Breanna Stewart explained. “Become a fan of our sport, and for the new ones, lock in on everybody. But don’t be disrespectful, because as a league, we stick together, and there’s no place for that.”
The WNBPA’s executive director, Terri Jackson, released a statement not long after Engleberts appearance came to light online. Jackson stated the correct way fans should treat all players by continuing to lift up their idols instead of tearing down their opponents.
“Here is the answer that the Commissioner should have provided to the very clear question regarding the racism, misogyny, and harassment experienced by the Players,” Jackson’s said in the statement . “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.”
Fans have continued to follow the pair’s rivalry from college to the WNBA and have now created a negative space whenever they play against each other. As Reese stated earlier this week in her podcast “Unapologetically Angel” that the fans have made tons of racist comments, made death threats and stalked her. The rivalry has become extremely toxic for the two, even though they are good friends but the fans just can’t seem to stop.
“It’s pretty clear, there’s a difference between rivalries and racism. Big difference,” Plum said, per Philippou.
On Tuesday night, Englebert put out a short statement on X to further explain what she meant during the power lunch.
“To be clear, there is absolutely no place for hate or racism of any kind in the WNBA or anywhere else,” Englebert tweeted.
Kierra Richardson is a sports journalist and a student the Ohio State University.
