WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert dedicated the first serious portion of her press conference at the league's All-Star game to addressing "harassment" against players.She said that the league will be implementing "next steps" to address "every aspect" of player experience, on the court, off the court and online."The racism, the misogyny, the homophobia, the harassment, and threats directed to our players has no place in sport or anywhere else," Engelbert said, adding that the issues have intensified in recent weeks but has also been an issue since "the moment I walked in the door."CAITLIN CLARK MAKES WNBA HISTORY WITH RECORD-BREAKING GAME AFTER WEEKS OF CONTROVERSYWNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks before the WNBA basketball draft in New York on April 13, 2026.
(Pamela Smith/AP)"There's more work to do and we need to make sure we're doing it."Many WNBA fans have raised concern over suspected racially-charged attacks on phenom Caitlin Clark in recent weeks, after she was punched in the throat by Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas during a game on June 24.Other fans have expressed concern over racially-charged comments and threats online directed at Thomas and other players, including Aces player Chelsea Gray who received an alleged racial insult in an Instagram DM earlier this month.Critics have suggested Engelbert be fired for her handling of the league's controversies this season and in recent years.Engelbert was asked if she expects to be commissioner at the start of the 2027 season.
She did not give a yes or a no answer.REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS PRESS WNBA COMMISSIONER CATHY ENGELBERT TO PROTECT CAITLIN CLARKWNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks during a news conference before the WNBA All-Star basketball game on July 19, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana.(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)"I'm so blessed to be at the helm of this league during this incredible hyper-growth period...
I will just continue to just do my job, execute the strategy because it has been workin...