After facing prior backlash, Cathy Engelbert reaffirms her commitment against hate speech & threats targeting WNBA players

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert spoke with reporters before Game 1 of the Finals showdown between the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty. Engelbert promptly addressed one of the most controversial and pressing issues the players have faced this year: the hateful, racist and derogatory comments hurled at them since the beginning of the season.

Engelbert expressed that the WNBA does not condone hateful behavior and said (via Noa Dalzell):

“That type of conduct is not representative of WNBA character or fanbase. As a league, we stand united in condemning racism and all forms of hate.

“We will meet with the Players’ Association, the players, teams. We will work together to expand and enhance our efforts, and are going to approach this multi-dimensionally, utilizing technology, prioritizing mental health, reinforcing physical security and increasing monitoring.“

In September, Cathy Engelbert faced significant criticism for failing to tackle the issue in an interview with CNBC. When asked how she would address the “darker, more menacing turn” of fan support, particularly on social media, Engelbert chose to highlight how the league was benefiting from the popularity of players and rivalries in the league, especially that between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.

The WNBA players union and several players have called Engelbert out for her statement. She later clarified her comments on X (formerly Twitter):

“During a recent media interview, I was asked about the dark side of social media and online conversation about WNBA rivalries and race. To be clear, there is absolutely no place for hate or racism of any kind in the WNBA or anywhere else.”

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Fans react to Cathy Engelbert’s comments against hate speech and racism in the WNBA

Cathy Engelbert had a few surprising announcements in her press conference but her statement about racism and hate speech were highly anticipated. Basketball fans promptly reacted to her thoughts, with one saying:

“Gonna be an easy job since the players make up 99% of it”

One fan had this to say:

“A lot of it came from inside your league!”

Another fan added:

“There was a time that this was not a thing....on both ends.”

@Da_Goat21 had a different take:

“Fake people on Twitter say dumb s**t sometimes. This isn’t an issue.”

This season, the WNBA saw record viewership numbers in the regular season and the playoffs, mainly thanks to Clark and Reese, who finished as the top two in the Rookie of the Year race.