WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has found herself under fire once again, this time for comments she made regarding rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, sparking a wave of backlash from both fans and pundits. The controversy comes on the heels of Engelbert’s previous misstep when she failed to clearly condemn the hateful speech often directed at WNBA players on social media.
This issue arose after Engelbert seemed to suggest that the rivalry between Clark and Angel Reese was beneficial for the league, leading to criticism for her lack of a strong stance against hate speech.
Acknowledging her mistake, Engelbert later apologized to the players, admitting her failure to take a definitive stand against the vitriol that circulates online, particularly from fans targeting athletes like Clark and Reese. However, the commissioner’s attempt to course-correct has done little to shield her from further scrutiny, especially after a recent interview where her comments about Clark drew more ire from fans.
During an appearance on “60 Minutes,” Engelbert praised Clark, calling her “clearly an unbelievable player” and highlighting her immense popularity and large fan following. However, the commissioner’s praise for Clark quickly pivoted to include other rookie standouts such as Angel Reese, Rickea Jackson, and Cameron Brink.
This prompted the interviewer to ask why Engelbert seems to always bring up other rookies when discussing Clark, a question that led to an eye-opening response from the commissioner.
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“No league’s ever about one player,” Engelbert candidly responded. “That player could get hurt or whatever. So I think it’s just to give recognition that in sports, people watch for compelling content, rivalries, and you can’t do that alone as one person.”
While Engelbert’s comments may have had some validity, they didn’t sit well with many fans on X (formerly known as Twitter), who took to the platform to express their displeasure. For some, it felt like the commissioner was downplaying Clark’s individual impact on the league and its viewership, which has skyrocketed in part due to Clark’s star power.
Fans quickly voiced their frustrations, with one commenter stating, “You need to call out people intentionally trying to hurt her. We all saw it. The world is watching this disgusting display.”
Another fan took issue with Engelbert’s emphasis on multiple players, saying, “Wrong. It is about one person. If Angel didn’t come to the league, it would still be like this with Caitlin. If Caitlin didn’t come to the league, none of this would be happening.”
Others felt Engelbert’s response missed the point entirely, with one person commenting, “We understand what she’s trying to create & sell. Reality is that Clark brought the avalanche of viewers, and she needs to let refs know they need to protect their cash cow.”
Another frustrated fan added, “She’s wrong! Look at the viewership and sold-out arenas ONLY because of Caitlin Clark. I have difficulty watching or supporting someone who’s so one-sided as the commissioner. She’s making herself look bad!”
Some even called for Engelbert’s removal as commissioner, with one user bluntly stating, “Cathy needs to be let go. She’s trying to create nasty rivalries to get viewers rather than focusing on good playing. She is not equipped to handle the league’s growth.”
It’s clear that Engelbert’s comments struck a nerve with many WNBA supporters. Fans seem to feel that the commissioner is overlooking or downplaying Clark’s individual influence on the league’s popularity, and her attempt to emphasize the importance of rivalries is being met with skepticism.
For now, it seems that no matter what Engelbert says or does, she’s facing mounting pressure from a growing number of vocal fans who disagree with her approach.
