WNBA commissioner fumbles when asked about toxic fan behaviors

Let’s start with the fact that WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert does not condone racism. That said, she failed to articulate that during an appearance on the CNBC program “Power Lunch.” When asked about WNBA rivalries, notably Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, and the dark side of social media, she pivoted to an analogy about when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird first joined the NBA in 1979 and how rivalries are good for sports. She then followed up with upbeat words about the increase in the league’s corporate sponsors.The Women’s National Basketball Players Association responded with a decisive statement from executive director Terri Jackson in which she laid out how Engelbert should have answered. In part, her statement read: “This is not about rivalries or iconic personalities fueling a business model. This kind of toxic fandom should never be tolerated or left unchecked. It demands immediate action, and frankly, should have been addressed long ago.”Engelbert subsequently issued an apology for her comments and denounced racism. Rather, now is the time to apply meaningful solutions so that the WNBA’s stand on such behavior is clear and people can learn how harmful this sort of toxicity is.“If left unaddressed, toxic behaviors will permeate...