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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert dedicated the first serious portion of her press conference at the league’s All-Star Game to addressing “bullying” against female players.
He said the league will implement “next steps” to address “all aspects” of the player experience on, off the court and online.”
“Racism, misogyny, homophobia, harassment and threats directed at our players have no place in sports or anywhere else,” Engelbert said, adding that the problems have intensified in recent weeks but have also been present since “the moment I walked in the door.”
“There is more work to do and we need to make sure we do it.”
CAITLIN CLARK MAKES WNBA HISTORY WITH RECORD-BREAKING GAME AFTER WEEKS OF CONTROVERSY
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks before the WNBA basketball draft in New York on April 13, 2026. (Pamela Smith/AP)
Many WNBA fans have expressed concern over alleged racially charged attacks against phenom Caitlin Clark in recent weeks after Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas punched her in the throat during a game on June 24.
Other fans have expressed concern about racially charged comments and threats online directed at Thomas and other players, including Aces player Chelsea Gray, who was the target of an alleged racial slur in an Instagram direct message earlier this month.
Critics have suggested that Engelbert be fired for her handling of league controversies this season and in recent years. Engelbert was asked if she hopes to be a commissioner at the start of the 2027 season. She did not answer yes or no.
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS PRESSURE WNBA COMMISSIONER CATHY ENGELBERT TO PROTECT CAITLIN CLARK
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks during a press conference before the WNBA All-Star basketball game on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
“I feel very blessed to be leading this league during this incredible period of hypergrowth… I will continue to do my job, execute the strategy because it has been working,” she said.
When asked how the league will address player safety, Engelbert went on a rant about “keyboard warriors.”
“Someone gave me this term, ‘keyboard warriors’. They are very, very adamant about getting their messages out to our players, whether it’s through direct messages or other means. So, again, we’re going to try to attack that and communicate a lot more with the players about it,” he said.
Engelbert addressed the question of whether the WNBA will make investigations, fines and suspensions more transparent, but also did not give a clear answer on the matter, frequently repeating the phrase: “We have processes.”
Engelbert was not asked questions about a recent USA Today column that criticized Clark for his handling of hard contact and questionable referee calls while invoking the murder of Emmett Till.
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He was also not asked any other questions specifically about Clark, Thomas’ punch to Clark’s throat or a recent letter sent to the league by 11 Republican lawmakers pushing for greater accountability regarding Clark’s physical treatment.
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert tees off on the 18th hole during the first round of the 2026 American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on July 10, 2026, in Stateline, Nevada. (Photos by Al Chang/ISI)
The commissioner was also not asked about the alleged cancellation of an interview on “The Dan Patrick Show” in early July.
Engelbert announced during her press conference that the WNBA will implement a full replay center starting in 2027.
