Radio host Dan Patrick announced Friday that WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert canceled a scheduled interview on "The Dan Patrick Show," claiming the league's public relations staff advised against her appearance. Patrick stated that the interview, slated for Thursday, was intended to cover topics including the ongoing controversy surrounding WNBA player Caitlin Clark and potential league expansion.
Patrick, who was attending the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Nevada at the time, said he and his producers waited for nearly two hours for the scheduled call. "She was going to do a meeting in her hotel room, a conference call, and then she was going to join us... We're standing by, we're waiting to interview her," Patrick said. He added that he had prepared questions about Clark and other league matters.
"Then we got word... that the commissioner said that the WNBA staff, the PR staff, said that she is not allowed to do this. They would prefer that she did not do this," Patrick stated, criticizing the decision. "You're the commissioner, and you're listening to the PR department, which is fine. But did you check with PR before you said yes to us? We promoted it all day yesterday."
Patrick suggested that the controversy surrounding Clark, including a recent on-court incident and a subsequent one-game suspension for Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas, as well as Clark's placement in All-Star voting, contributed to the cancellation. He noted that his show had reached out to the WNBA for a statement on the incident involving Clark and Thomas on June 25 and received no response, which he publicly criticized the following day.
The league has faced scrutiny over its handling of incidents involving Clark. In one instance, after Thomas punched Clark in the throat, referees did not initially call a foul. Thomas later received a one-game suspension after a review. The WNBA later issued a statement defending Thomas against online backlash, emphasizing player safety.
Further controversy arose when Clark finished 11th in the peer-voted portion of the WNBA All-Star balloting, a decision criticized by figures like WNBA legend Candace Parker, who called it a sign of insecurity among voters. This situation has also drawn attention from Capitol Hill, with eleven Republican lawmakers sending a letter to Engelbert demanding accountability for the treatment of Clark and suggesting federal investigation into the league for a potentially hostile work environment.
The Indiana Fever, Clark's team, have distanced themselves from the political intervention, stating they had no prior knowledge of the lawmakers' letter. Fever head coach Stephanie White declined to comment on the letter when asked by Fox News Digital, stating, "That's not something we can control. We're not affiliated with those groups. We try to keep the main thing the main thing and focus on the things we can control."