WNBA: Commissioner writes letter to gamers after insufficient interview

Within the final full week of the 2024 WNBA common season, the Commissioner’s feedback—or lack of feedback—overshadowed the record-breaking efforts of a number of gamers. Atone for all of it right here:

Is Engelbert’s apology letter sufficient?

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has continued to attempt to clear up the autumn out from her Monday interview on CNBC’s “Energy Lunch,” when, requested concerning the racist and sexist language deployed in on-line conversations that pit rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese in opposition to one another, she emphasised the enterprise alternatives opened up by the curiosity within the rising stars’ rivalry.

WNBA gamers took rapid exception to the Engelbert’s response, via indirect or extra specific social media posts. The WNBPA and Govt Director Terri Jackson shortly responded with an announcement, indicating that the Commissioner ought to have referred to as out the racist, sexist and homophobic assaults gamers are subjected to on social media.

The WNBPA has embodied the “greater than an athlete” mantra, as WNBA gamers have embraced their full, intersecting identities and used their platforms to advocate for points related to them and their communities. Engelbert, as an alternative, flattened athletes into property, the place their identities are promoted in service of the expansion of the league, relatively than shielded from dangerous rhetoric.

Tuesday evening, Engelbert posted a brief apology on X. On Friday, she despatched a letter to all gamers, as first reported by The Wall Avenue Journal. She moreover spoke to some gamers, based on ESPN. Engelbert wrote within the letter:

I used to be requested a query about WNBA rivalries and the darkish facet of social media and race, and easily put, my reply missed the mark and I’m sorry. I remorse that I didn’t specific, in a transparent and definitive approach, condemnation of the hateful speech that’s all too typically directed at WNBA gamers on social media.

She continued:

I ought to have said immediately and unequivocally that hate speech is dangerous. This can be a teachable second and one I embrace with humility. There may be completely no room for racism, misogyny, homophobia and different types of hate within the WNBA or wherever….I do know lots of you will have been coping with it for a very long time. I would like us as a league to do our half to vary the too typically poisonous and abusive nature of social media discourse.

On Saturday, The Subsequent’s Jackie Powell requested Breanna Stewart, a WNBPA Vice President, about Engelbert’s letter. Whereas indicating she additionally had spoken to the Commissioner, Stewart mentioned:

And I really feel like between that and the letter, the factor that I recognize probably the most is accountability, you realize. Understanding what you probably did or didn’t say and the way fallacious that’s since you didn’t type of examine individuals on the door. And in order that right here on this league, there’s a no tolerance coverage for all issues, however particularly racism. And you realize that she must be higher in answering her questions and ensuring that you realize you’re at all times prepared for what’s being requested, as a result of as gamers, we’re in the identical boat and scenario, you realize we’re at all times prepared for what’s going to be requested, and ensuring that we’re representing the W, ourselves and our households as greatest we will.

It’s onerous to see what the league and gamers might do to curb the racist, sexist and homophobic abuse levied at WNBA gamers in on-line areas. X, particularly, has develop into a sewer that overflows with vile provocations. But, with negotiations for a brand new CBA on the horizon, this case ought to create a chance for WNBA gamers to demand that the league do all the pieces that’s inside its energy to defend them as gamers and individuals, in each their on-court and off-court lives.

WNBA, Aces search dismissal of Hamby lawsuit

On Thursday, the WNBA and Las Vegas Aces filed separate motions to dismiss the federal lawsuit filed by the Los Angeles Sparks’ Dearica Hamby roughly one month in the past.

Whereas Hamby alleged she skilled discrimination and retaliation from the Aces group after the disclosure of her being pregnant, which ultimately resulted in a commerce to the Sparks, the WNBA is arguing she doesn’t have standing to sue the league, because the league shouldn’t be her employer. The WNBA additionally attests that it sufficiently investigated her allegations and didn’t terminate her participant advertising and marketing settlement as a type of retaliation.

The Aces contend of their movement that Hamby didn’t supply sufficient proof of discrimination or retaliation. Their submitting asserts:

Hamby’s Criticism alleges the Aces traded the rights to her contract as a result of she was pregnant and retaliated in opposition to her after she created a social media publish concerning the purported being pregnant discrimination…. Hamby’s false allegations in opposition to the Aces fall in need of stating a believable declare for aid.

A’One is No. 1

For the second-straight season, the WNBA’s single-season scoring file has been damaged. However this time, A’ja Wilson did it with authority.

Wilson’s single-season scoring mark, which she set on Wednesday, shouldn’t be the product of a 40-game season; final season, the league’s first 40-game season, she, Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd all surpassed Diana Taurasi’s long-standing single-season scoring mark of 860 complete factors, which she achieved in 2006 in 34 video games, scoring a league-record 25.3 factors per sport. Loyd topped the listing with 939 factors scored in 2023, albeit by averaging 24.7 factors throughout 37 video games.

Having performed 36 video games in 2024, Wilson already is at 971 factors, with a per sport common of 27.0 factors. Briefly, she has left no room for quibbling or {qualifications}. Wilson’s 2024 would be the most prolific scoring season in WNBA historical past, as she is going to personal each the single-season factors scored and factors per sport information. In all probability (and probably as quickly as Sunday afternoon), she’ll additionally develop into the primary WNBA participant to attain 1,000 factors in a single season.

Arike is (already) an all-timer

However, Wilson higher be careful for Arike Ogunbowale. She’s actually able to threatening Wilson’s soon-to-be-established single-season scoring mark.

In simply her sixth WNBA season, Ogunbowale already has develop into the main scorer in Dallas Wings’ franchise historical past. She’s now at 3987 factors, and counting. She surpassed Deanna Nolan, who scored 3971 factors throughout 9 seasons with the Detroit Shock, the grandmother franchise of in the present day’s Wings.

CC passes the take a look at

Already in possession of quite a few rookie information, Caitlin Clark now has probably the most assists in a single season in WNBA historical past. On Friday evening, she handed Alyssa Thomas’ file of 316 assists, which she set final season. Clark is now at 321 assists, and counting.

Not like Wilson’s achievement, Clark’s file is the beneficiary of a 40-game season. She’s averaging 8.4 assists throughout 38 video games. Enjoying 22 video games within the shortened 2020 season, Courtney Vandersloot, then with the Chicago Sky, averaged practically 10 assists per sport, coming in at 9.95 per contest. In 2025 and past, that’s a file for Clark to shoot (or go) for.

All people watches the WNBA

ESPN has wrapped up it’s regular-season WNBA protection and, unsurprisingly, it was a record-breaker. The 2024 season is the most-watched season on ESPN, with a median of 1.2 million viewers per sport.

If individuals CAN watch girls’s basketball, individuals WILL watch girls’s basketball. Let’s hope extra expansive protection results in a good larger enhance in viewership in 2025.