WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has found herself in the firing line once again as the scandal surrounding Caitlin Clark continues to spiral out of control.
The league and Engelbert were forced to weather yet another storm of controversy last month when Clark – arguably the face of the league – was punched in the throat by a rival during an Indiana Fever game.
In the wake of the controversy, Engelbert was supposed to make an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show this week, according to the radio host.
However, the Commissioner backed out, cancelling her appearance at the behest of the WNBA’s PR team, claimed Patrick.
Engelbert was in the area of Lake Tahoe, Nevada, where the show is recorded, for the American Century Championship golf tournament.
And Patrick had promoted the interview with the Commissioner, which had been scheduled for Thursday, throughout the week.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has found herself in the firing line once again
Fever star Caitlin Clark was punched in the throat by Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas
Yet, when the allotted time rolled around, Patrick claimed that Engelbert, who has served as the WNBA’s commissioner for seven years, did not show.
Patrick said he and his producers ‘waited almost two hours’ for Engelbert, contacting the WNBA multiple times before getting a ‘feeble’ response.
‘And then we got word that the commissioner said that the WNBA staff, the PR staff, said that she is not allowed to do this,’ Patrick said. ‘They would prefer that she did not do [the interview].
‘Did you check with PR before you said yes to us?’
He continued to insist that if the WNBA wanted to be treated as a top league in the United States then its commissioner should be willing to face the music.
He admitted he was preparing to ask some tough questions, but nothing unfair that Engelbert shouldn’t have to answer to.
‘I thought this was going to be a good thing for the WNBA because people still want answers here,’ Patrick said. ‘There’s so many people who have an opinion, agendas here, and this was a chance to sit down.
‘And yes, would the questions be tough? Yes, yes. And I’m sure that had something to do with [Engelbert canceling]… So, it’s just disappointing.’
The commissioner was scheduled to appear on the Dan Patrick Show but cancelled
Dan Patrick tore into Engelbert for backing out, claiming her PR team made her cancel
Engelbert’s cancelled interview comes after Patrick, like the majority of news outlets and networks in the US, has extensively covered the fallout from the punch on Clark.
The Fever guard was driving to the hoop when she fell to the ground in the paint while under pressure from a number of Mercury defenders.
Three rival players were battling to strip the ball away from Clark and succeeded in doing so. But, while Clark was down on the floor, Mercury star Alyssa Thomas charged in and put her closed fist into the Fever superstar’s neck.
The WNBA’s lack of reaction to Thomas’ punch on Clark has sparked a firestorm directed at the player, officials and the league for what some believe is a routine failure to protect the Indiana Fever star.
Even a group of 11 Republican lawmakers wrote a letter to Engelbert earlier this week demanding that the WNBA Commissioner take ‘accountability’ for the ‘multiple attacks’ on Clark.
The congressmen and women, led by US Rep. August Pfluger of Texas, questioned how she intends to keep players, namely Clark, safe on the court.
The letter describes Clark as ‘the face of your league,’ crediting her for increased fan interest, television ratings and corporate sponsorships,
In the days that followed the punching incident, Thomas said she was racially abused online and received threats toward herself and her family – including her children.
Engelbert is currently competing in the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe
Thomas says she’s been the victim of racial abuse and threats to her family after the incident
She directed frustration at the WNBA and Engelbert, whom she criticized for being silent on the issue.
‘The league has to do better in this instance,’ Thomas said. ‘Honestly, I didn’t even know I was being suspended until 10 minutes before it was being put on social media. We still have yet to hear anything from Cathy.
‘It’s no surprise. You can see what’s being said on social media. It’s unfortunate, but as usual, she remains silent. That’s unfortunate when our lives are being threatened.
‘Just the whole narrative that’s being painted out there,’ she continued. ‘It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball.
‘A lot of us, myself included, didn’t even know the play took place until after the game. And now we’re being painted as thugs. And [there are] death threats out on us, so it’s really unacceptable. It’s something that needs to change in this league, and I’m just really sick and tired of it.’
As reported by ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Engelbert and Thomas did exchange text messages. The Commissioner is said to have directed league security to get in touch with Phoenix security over the threats to Thomas.
Engelbert also released her own statement last week, saying: ‘The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate. The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league’s top priority.
‘We are aware of Alyssa Thomas’ comments, and what she and her teammates have experienced is completely unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community. The league and our security team have been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organization and remain committed to protecting all players.’
