"Racism is never tolerable": WNBPA releases strongly-worded statement on Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's controversial take on Clark-Reese rivalry

The WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) issued a strongly worded statement in response to league commissioner Cathy Engelbert's controversial remarks, where she suggested that the WNBA is benefiting from a racial rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, a white vs. Black narrative.

In an interview with CNBC posted on YouTube a day ago, Cathy Engelbert likened the Clark-Reese rivalry to that of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson when they were NBA rookies in 1979. She said that their college rivalry and racial differences sparked NBA interest, and similarly, the Clark-Reese dynamic has boosted interest in the WNBA.

WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson criticized Cathy Engelbert's comments, saying they promote toxic behavior in the fanbase. She said the commissioner should have instead addressed the racism, misogyny, and harassment WNBA players experience.

“Fandom should lift up the game, not tear down the very people who bring it to life. Racism, and the toll it takes on everyone, is never tolerable, let alone justifiable, in the name of economic growth,” she said.

“This is about more than just basketball—it's about respect, accountability, and setting the standard for what we will and will not accept in our sport and society.”

Carmichael Jackson said that rivalries should not be centered around race and Engelbert’s suggestion that the league benefits from such dynamics only perpetuates harmful fan behavior.

“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,” she said.

Jackson acknowledged that the growing interest in the WNBA is positive and credited the rookie class led by Clark and Reese for driving this surge in attention.

What exactly did Cathy Engelbert say about the Clark-Reese rivalry?

During an appearance on CNBC’s “Power Lunch,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert compared the increased viewership and interest driven by rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese to the effect Larry Bird and Magic Johnson had in the 1980s after entering the league.

Engelbert highlighted the similarities between the rivalries, noting that both featured a college rivalry with one player being white and the other Black.

“It is a little like that Bird-Magic moment, if you recall from 1979, when those two rookies came in from a big college rivalry—one white, one black. We have that moment with these two, but the one thing I know about sports is that you need rivalry,” she said.

She added that the league benefits from rivalries as they help overcome the indifference toward the WNBA.

“That's what makes people watch; they want to watch games of consequence between rivals. They don't want everybody being nice to one another.”

Clark and Reese have been widely credited for contributing to the surge in WNBA viewership. Two games featuring the two garnered over two million viewers each, and 25 of the top 30 most-watched games this season involved Clark's Indiana Fever.