WNBA players and their union are pushing back against recent comments from Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on a TV show that failed to condemn fans’ racist and violent comments about the rivalry between Kaitlyn Clark and Angel Reese.
Engelbert appeared on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” on Monday, where he was asked by anchor Tyler Matheson about the “darker” tone his fans take on social media, bringing race and sometimes sexual orientation into the conversation.
“When your two most prominent players are involved in saying some very unkind things about each other, how do you try to get ahead of it and contain it or act like the league, not personally but the fan base, is involved,” Mattison asked.
“There’s no more indifference,” Engelbert said. “Everybody cares. If you remember back in 1979, when the two rookies came out of the big college rivalry, it was kind of like the Bird Magic moment. One was white, one was black. So we got that moment with those two guys.
“But one thing I know about sports is that there needs to be competition. That’s why people watch. They want to see big games between rivals. They don’t want everyone to be nice to each other.”
WNBPA Executive Director Terry Jackson A statement was released on Tuesday I disagree with Engelbert’s opinion.
“The commissioner’s response to a very clear question about the racism, misogyny and bullying experienced by our players is this: The ugly hate, racist language, homophobic comments and misogynistic attacks that our players face on social media, whether in sport or in life, are completely unacceptable,” the statement said.
The union statement added that fandom should “improve the game, not tear down the people who keep it alive.”
Engelbert clarified her earlier comments. On social media Late Tuesday night, she posted, “Let me be clear: There is absolutely no room for hate or racism in the WNBA or anywhere else.”
Clarke and Reese have brought new attention to the WNBA this season, with attendance and viewership skyrocketing. The pair have been rivals on the court since their college days, with LSU beating Iowa in the 2023 national championship game.
Union vice president Breanna Stewart was disappointed with Engelbert’s initial comments.
“Honestly, I saw the interview today and spoke to Terry at WNBPA,” Stewart said after the win over the Dallas Wings. “It’s a little disappointing to hear because of the way the fans have been so supportive of Kaitlyn and Angel coming into the league. It’s also taken the racial aspect to another level.
“And you know, there’s no place for that in our sport. I think that’s what it is. We want our sport to be inclusive of race, gender, and a place where people can be themselves. So we’d certainly like to see Cathy use her platform in a different way and go a little bit further in saying to the fans that enough is enough.”
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