WNBA gamers and their union have criticized latest feedback from the league’s commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, that didn’t condemn racist and bitter criticism from followers towards Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
Engelbert made an look on CNBC’s Energy Lunch on Monday and was requested by anchor Tyler Mathisen about what he known as the “darker” tone taken by fanbases on social media that brings race and generally sexuality into the dialog round a league the place the vast majority of gamers are Black and lots of are homosexual.
“How do you try to keep forward of that, try to tamp it down or act as a league when two of your most seen gamers are concerned – not personally, it could appear, however their fanbases are concerned – in saying some very uncharitable issues in regards to the different?” Mathisen requested.
Engelbert responded by saying, “There’s no extra apathy. All people cares. It’s a little of that Hen-Magic second when you recall from 1979, when these two rookies got here in from an enormous school rivalry, one white, one Black. And so we’ve got that second with these two.
“However the one factor I learn about sports activities, you want rivalry. That’s what makes folks watch. They need to watch video games of consequence between rivals. They don’t need all people being good to 1 one other.”
WNBPA government director Terri Jackson issued an announcement on Tuesday disagreeing with Engelbert’s feedback.
“Right here is the reply that the commissioner ought to have supplied to the very clear query concerning the racism, misogyny, and harassment skilled by the gamers: There’s completely no place in sport – or in life – for the vile hate, racist language, homophobic feedback, and the misogynistic assaults our gamers are going through on social media,” the assertion stated.
The union assertion went on to say that fandom ought to “raise up the sport, not tear down the very individuals who carry it to life.”
Engelbert clarified her preliminary remarks on social media late on Tuesday night time, writing, “To be clear, there may be completely no place for hate or racism of any variety within the WNBA or anyplace else.”
Clark and Reese have introduced new consideration to the WNBA this season with attendance and scores hovering. The pair have been rivals on the court docket since their school days when LSU topped Iowa within the nationwide championship sport in 2023.
Union vice-president Breanna Stewart, a nine-year veteran, stated she was dissatisfied in Engelbert’s preliminary feedback.
“To be sincere, I noticed the interview as we speak, and have been in talks with Terri on the WNBPA,” Stewart stated after a win over the Dallas Wings. “I believe that it’s form of disappointing to listen to as a result of the best way that the followers have surged, particularly behind Caitlin and Angel coming to this league, but additionally bringing, like, a race side, to a unique stage.
“And , there’s no place for that in our sport. I believe that’s actually what it’s. We would like our sport to be inclusive for race, for gender, and actually a spot the place folks could be themselves. So we want, clearly, Cathy would have used her platform differently, and have made that a bit of bit higher, form of simply telling the followers sufficient is sufficient.”
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