WNBA commissioner vows to crack down on 'racism, misogyny,' dodges big questions at All-Star press conference

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert dedicated the archetypal superior information of her property league astatine the league's All-Star crippled to addressing "harassment" against players. She said that the league volition beryllium implementing "next steps" to code "every aspect" of subordinate experience, connected the court, disconnected the tribunal and online.

"The racism, the misogyny, the homophobia, the harassment, and threats directed to our players has nary spot successful athletics oregon anyplace else," Engelbert said, adding that the issues person intensified successful caller weeks but has besides been an contented since "the infinitesimal I walked successful the door."

CAITLIN CLARK MAKES WNBA HISTORY WITH RECORD-BREAKING GAME AFTER WEEKS OF CONTROVERSY

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks earlier the WNBA hoops draught successful New York connected April 13, 2026. (Pamela Smith/AP)

"There's much enactment to bash and we request to marque definite we're doing it."

Many WNBA fans person raised interest implicit suspected racially-charged attacks connected phenom Caitlin Clark successful caller weeks, aft she was punched successful the pharynx by Phoenix Mercury prima Alyssa Thomas during a crippled connected June 24.

Other fans person expressed interest implicit racially-charged comments and threats online directed astatine Thomas and different players, including Aces subordinate Chelsea Gray who received an alleged radical insult successful an Instagram DM earlier this month.

Critics person suggested Engelbert beryllium fired for her handling of the league's controversies this play and successful caller years. Engelbert was asked if she expects to beryllium commissioner astatine the commencement of the 2027 season. She did not springiness a yes oregon a nary answer.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS PRESS WNBA COMMISSIONER CATHY ENGELBERT TO PROTECT CAITLIN CLARK

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks during a quality league earlier the WNBA All-Star hoops crippled connected July 19, 2025, successful Indianapolis, Indiana. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

"I'm truthful blessed to beryllium astatine the helm of this league during this unthinkable hyper-growth period... I volition conscionable proceed to conscionable bash my job, execute the strategy due to the fact that it has been working," she said.

When asked a question astir however the league volition code subordinate security, Engelbert transitioned the reply into a rant astir "keyboard warriors."

"Someone gave maine this term, 'keyboard warriors,' they're precise very adamant to get their messages done to our players, whether it's done DMs, whether it's done different means. So, again, we're gonna effort to onslaught it and we're gonna pass a batch much with the players connected that," she said.

Engelbert addressed a question astir whether the WNBA volition marque investigations into fines and suspensions much transparent, but she did not springiness a wide reply connected that either, portion often repeating the line, "we person processes."

Engelbert was not asked immoderate questions astir a caller USA Today file that criticized Clark for her handling of hard interaction and questionable referee decisions portion invoking the execution of Emmett Till.

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She was besides not asked immoderate different questions specifically astir Clark, Thomas' punch to Clark's pharynx oregon a caller missive sent to the league by 11 GOP lawmakers pressing for greater accountability regarding the carnal attraction against Clark.

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Cathy Engelbert, WNBA commissioner, tees disconnected connected the 18th spread during the archetypal circular of the American Century Championship 2026 astatine Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course connected July 10, 2026, successful Stateline, Nev. (Al Chang/ISI Photos)

The commissioner was besides not asked astir allegedly cancelling an interrogation connected The Dan Patrick Show successful aboriginal July.

Engelbert announced that the WNBA volition instrumentality a afloat replay halfway opening successful 2027 during her property conference.