WNBPA, players condemn commissioner Cathy Engelbert over interview about race, Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association and several players across the WNBA spoke out against commissioner Cathy Engelbert after her appearance on CNBC on Tuesday.

Engelbert was asked about the “darker” and “more menacing” tone that has been taken by some fans on social media this season, especially when it comes to star rookies Caitlin Clark, who is white, and Angel Reese, who is Black. According to the players’ union and several players, her answers fell short.

What did Cathy Engelbert say?

Engelbert, speaking on “Power Lunch,” was asked about the growing harassment players have received on social media and the racial aspect that has been brought into the conversation when it comes to Clark and Reese, among other things.

There have been plenty of issues players have shared in this regard all season long. Reese said earlier this month that some of Clark’s fans have harassed her online, issued death threats, followed her home, published AI-generated naked photos of her and more.

Several other players have been harassed with ugly comments from fans after committing hard fouls against Clark this season. One person allegedly called Chennedy Carter a “ghetto b****” at her team hotel after she shoulder-checked Clark. Diamond DeShields even shared a post of someone saying they hoped her spinal tumor would come back.

But instead of getting into those details, Engelbert focused on the rivalry between Reese and Clark on the court and how that’s growing the league. She compared it to the early rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in the NBA.

WNBA Commissioner, Cathy Engelbert on the toxicity that’s spawned from the Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese rivalry. Seems to me the WNBA media who keeps chastising the fans, is running counter to what the commissioner wants. Let me know what you think. #WNBA #feverrising

Full… pic.twitter.com/N67HN0n6Vn

— Ken Swift (@kenswift) September 9, 2024

“There’s no more apathy. Everybody cares,” she said. “It is a little of that [Larry] Bird-Magic [Johnson] moment if you recall from 1979, when those two rookies came in from a big college rivalry, one…

Source link : https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/wnbpa-players-condemn-commissioner-cathy-engelbert-over-interview-about-race-caitlin-clark-angel-reese-rivalry-042347695.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-09-11 04:23:47

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