On Saturday, ‘Boohalla’ was a place for celebration, but one person certainly wasn’t getting a warm welcome. After the Golden State Valkyries made history by winning their first WNBA championship, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert found herself on the receiving end of a chorus of boos from the very fans who had gathered to celebrate their team’s historic achievement.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
Following a neck-and-neck series against the Atlanta Dream, the Valkyries secured the championship with a 68-63 Game 7 victory. While the players and fans were celebrating, Engelbert’s presence during the trophy presentation quickly became another talking point. Despite preparing to step down from her position at the end of the year, the 61-year-old commissioner was met with a hostile reception as she stood on the court. And while Engelbert faced the crowd’s displeasure, a Valkyries player’s reaction to the moment caught fans’ attention.
Standing right beside the commissioner, Janelle Salaün appeared visibly stunned as the crowd continued to boo Engelbert. And her reaction quickly made its way onto social media, with The Daily W sharing the moment on Instagram alongside the caption, “Janelle Salaün’s REACTION to Cathy Engelbert being BOO’D😭👀”.
The Valkyries celebrated becoming the youngest franchise in league history to win a championship, but the crowd made it clear that the commissioner’s ongoing controversies had not been forgotten.
Engelbert has faced growing criticism over her handling of several issues surrounding the league, particularly player safety, escalating physicality, and concerns about officiating. Players and fans have also questioned the league’s response to online harassment and threats directed at athletes, with some believing that the commissioner’s leadership has not adequately addressed their concerns.
However, tensions have extended beyond those issues. Her relationship with players has also come under scrutiny, particularly after Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas publicly criticized the commissioner for remaining silent while she faced massive online harassment following a physical incident involving Caitlin Clark.
But Saturday’s reception was hardly an isolated incident. Cathy Engelbert has faced boos at other WNBA events this season as well, so even a historic championship celebration couldn’t keep the frustration surrounding her leadership out of the spotlight.
There seems to be no love lost between WNBA fans and Engelbert either. But while the commissioner once again found herself at the center of controversy, the Valkyries had plenty to celebrate after delivering a historic performance on the court.
Gabby Williams led the charge in Game 7, putting together a remarkable 30-point performance to help Golden State secure a win over the Atlanta Dream. After trailing by six points at halftime, the Valkyries turned the game around in the third quarter, with Williams pouring in 15 points to give her team a narrow 45-44 lead heading into the final period.
The Valkyries held on from there, completing their championship run in just their second season in the league. And while the trophy presentation brought an uncomfortable moment for Cathy Engelbert, Golden State finally had its long-awaited moment at the top of the WNBA.