While the WNBA is experiencing a period of great success not seen before in its almost three decades of existence, it’s also experiencing the harsh realities that the spotlight brings.
Yes, the league has had its battles with homophobia, sexism and overall ignorance, but what it’s seeing now is far worse thanks to racism, sports betting and politics.
The latter officially inserted itself into mix when a group of 11 Republicans, led by Texas Rep. August Pfluger, penned a letter to the league about the “physical violence” inflicted on superstar Caitlin Clark.
“Clark has been hip-checked, poked in the eye, and struck in the throat during games. These incidents go far beyond routine physical play, yet the WNBA and its officiating have too often failed to address these unacceptable incidents and hold players accountable,” said the letter from the members of the Republican Study Committee.
They even threatened the WNBA that the Department of Justice, Department of Labor or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission could get involved if the league didn’t do more to protect Clark.
“I’m putting the league on notice that if it keeps letting the violent targeting slide, they could find themselves facing a DOJ and EEOC crackdown for violating federal civil rights law,” posted Pfluger on X.
The letter came after Clark and Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas got tangled up on the floor during their game in June, and Thomas’ fist pressed on Clark’s neck.
No foul was given on the play but after reviewing it, the WNBA issued a flagrant 2 foul against Thomas and suspended her for a game.
And that’s when the racists emerged.
Thomas revealed that she had started receiving hateful messages and even death threats after the moment went viral.
“It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball,” Thomas said. “A lot of us, myself included, didn’t even know the play took place until after the game. Now we’re being painted as thugs. There’s death threats out on us. It’s really unacceptable.”
Unacceptable is an understatement.
“People are sending racial slurs and all types of stuff,” she added. “There’s a difference between trolling and there’s a difference between hatred. The hatred that we’re experiencing over a play that, honestly, was a complete accident, no one even knew it happened. It’s just unfortunate. The league has to do better in this instance.”
In response, the league said it “vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate,” and issued the following statement.
“The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league’s top priority,” wrote WNBA Commissioner, Cathy Engelbert. “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.”
Racism then turned its attention to 4x WNBA Champion Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces, who posted a racist DM message she received to her IG stories from a user identified as an employee of, and later fired by, Hilton Grand Vacations.
“People act like we make this s**t up. And the audacity to tell us as athletes to ‘shut up and dribble.’” wrote Gray on her story.
That resulted in statements by the Aces and Hilton Grand Vacations and more heat on the league and Engelbert.
But reality wasn’t done with the league just yet.
This week, Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud, in an interview with Front Office Sports, revealed that sports betting has partnered with racism to further threaten the players.
“I’m called a bitch, I’m called a ni**er, I’m called everything under the sun. I’ve been told that they hope that our plane crashes on the way home,” said the WNBA veteran to FOS.
Sports betting has led to threats against players in all sports, including the NBA, which is dealing with its own ugly sports betting incidents involving current and past players.
Now those threats are directly affecting WNBA players, and they’re not having it.
“Now I think it demands her [Engelbert] to actually take some initiative and to do something about it. I don’t know what it is that she’s going to do, but I also think that simple statements of not condoning shit is also really good for public relations as well.” said Cloud.
It’s amusingly disturbing to see a league haters claim nobody watches, and a league that is now being politically weaponized, has suddenly become “must-see” for their pursuits and agendas.
And it’s for all the wrong reasons.
While Engelbert has led the league through historic ratings, a massive new media rights deal and future expansion, with the good comes the bad and it’s time for her to take serious action to deal with serious issues that are threatening the WNBA and its most important product.
The players.
