Following Caitlin Clark’s dumbfounding remarks, WNBA fans trash the commissioner.
Although the WNBA has seen its share of scandals, few have provoked as strong a response as commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s recent remarks about Caitlin Clark. Fans are not letting Engelbert off the hook after the league’s rookie sensation, who has been nothing short of a phenomenon since entering the pros, inadvertently found herself at the center of an unnecessary storm.
Many people have called Engelbert’s comments “dismissive” and even “tone-deaf,” which seemed to minimize Clark’s influence on and off the court. Her remarks were shocking to those who have seen Clark alone increase women’s basketball’s visibility, ticket sales, and ratings in a league that has been battling for decades for public recognition. Many saw Engelbert’s response as a backhanded criticism rather than a celebration of her contribution to drawing previously unheard-of attention to the WNBA. That didn’t sit well.
Social media exploded almost instantly. Inquiring as to why the commissioner would publicly disparage one of the biggest stars the league has seen in years, fans flocked to Twitter threads, forums, and comment sections.
“Caitlin Clark is the reason half of us even tuned in this season, and this is the thanks she gets?” one fan wrote bluntly. “Engelbert should be Clark’s biggest supporter, not her biggest hindrance,” another person added. That’s the crux of it.
Clark isn’t your average rookie. She is a driving force behind the economy. Arenas were packed as soon as she took the court in the WNBA. The merchandise was completely sold out. Ratings skyrocketed. Even casual sports fans—those who rarely glanced at women’s basketball—started paying attention. In short, she’s helped make the league conversation topic far beyond the usual circles.
Therefore, what ought to have been a moment of celebration was shattered by Engelbert’s remarks. Critics contend that the commissioner passed up a fantastic chance to strengthen Clark’s position as a symbol of the league’s future and to embrace her influence. Rather, the story shifted to one of a rift between the audience and the leadership.
It’s not as if Clark has requested preferential treatment. She has reportedly just gone about her business, performing to the best of her abilities, setting records, and leaving fans with unforgettable performances.
In interviews, she is modest, quick to give credit to teammates, and clearly passionate about the expansion of women’s basketball. Fans quickly defended her because they saw someone doing everything right while being undercut by the league she was helping to change.
The timing of this controversy is what makes it even more painful. The WNBA has been going through one of its most exciting periods in a long time. This should be a golden age with a rise in new fans, balanced competition throughout the league, and intensifying star rivalries.
Rather, the focus has shifted from the court to dubious leadership at the highest levels. Naturally, not every fan thinks Engelbert was malicious in his remarks. Some contend that her words were taken out of context or that she just misspoke. However, perception is important.
Furthermore, the harm is already done when the vast majority of your paying audience feels excluded. Momentum is brittle in sports. Leadership blunders, particularly against adored players, run the risk of impeding the very advancements the WNBA has been fighting so hard to make.
The takeaway from this is straightforward: Caitlin Clark is not your average rookie. She serves as a link between the new and the old, between basketball purists and new fans who are just learning about the league. It only serves the WNBA’s own goals to undermine her.
Engelbert will need to do more than just provide clarification if she wishes to proceed. She will have to demonstrate that she knows what Clark means to women’s basketball in general, not just to Iowa or Indiana. If she does anything less, the fans will continue to remind her loud and clear.
