“We wish, obviously, Cathy would have used her platform in a different way, and have made that a little bit better.” The New York Liberty star, Breanna Stewart was just one among many who outrightly rejected WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s take on negative interactions of WNBA fans on social media. While Engelbert attempted to take a more diplomatic stance, her remarks didn’t sit well with players. And now, even WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes has chimed in, giving the commissioner a firm piece of her mind.
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On the latest episode of Queens of the Court, the former WNBA legend expressed her disappointment, saying Engelbert’s response didn’t even address the issue at hand. “You know what I took from that answer because she didn’t answer the question. To me, it was more like a, ‘stuff that athletes have been hearing for a while now.’ More like a ‘shut up and dribble,’ right? Like as long as the dollars are coming in and the money is coming in, we’re good on this side,” stated Swoopes.
Swoopes didn’t stop there, emphasizing that as the leader and face of the WNBA, Cathy Engelbert should have handled the situation better. There is a growing wave of hatred and harsh criticism players are facing, with rookies like Angel Reese speaking out about their own experiences. In the debut episode of her podcast, the Sky forward opened up about racism, receiving death threats and even being followed to her own home, shedding light on the seriousness of the issue.
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“Like, this is not where I ever wanted to see this league be. Didn’t think I would ever see it go here, but it’s real. And at some point, someone has got to say, enough is enough. And that someone in that moment should have been Cathy Engelbert,” mentioned Swoopes. Well, as the legend believes, Engelbert’s response was a big miss, the commissioner came out with an apology for her remarks later on.
Cathy Engelbert’s stance which caused turbulence
When Cathy Engelbert appeared on CNBC’s “Power Lunch”, she was asked about the increasingly “darker” conversations on social media, especially when sensitive issues arise. The anchor inquired how the WNBA addresses these situations, particularly when the fan bases of two high-profile players are involved in unkind exchanges, even though the players themselves might not be directly involved.
When Engelbert tackled the topic, she drew an interesting parallel to the legendary Bird-Magic rivalry from 1979 and said that sports need rivalry. That it is why people watch the games. “They don’t want everybody being nice to one another,” she had added.
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JULY 20: WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks to the media before the 2024 WNBA All Star Game at Footprint Center on July 20, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
But the WNBPA was quick to respond, dismissing her view with a sharp statement from their executive director, Terri Jackson. “This is not about rivalries or iconic personalities fueling a business model…It demands immediate action, and frankly, should have been addressed long ago,” she wrote.
In response to the backlash, the commissioner issued an apology as well. “I regret that I didn’t express, in a clear and definitive way, condemnation of the hateful speech that is all too often directed at WNBA players on social media. This is a teachable moment and one that I embrace with humility. There is absolutely no room for racism, misogyny, homophobia and other forms of hate in the WNBA or anywhere.”
Despite Engelbert’s apology, it hasn’t quelled the discontent. “Even the apology was very like, oh, oops, my bad. Is this what y’all are looking for?” said Swoopes. With WNBA players and legends calling for more substantial action, the league’s handling of such issues remains under scrutiny.
Written by
Edited by
Shivatmika Manvi