WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert was met with boos from the crowd at the Commissioner's Cup final in Brooklyn following a controversial play involving Caitlin Clark and allegations of fan abuse directed at players.
Engelbert was present for the New York Liberty's victory over the Las Vegas Aces. After the game, as she was set to present the Liberty with their trophy, the crowd at Barclays Center booed loudly. One fan described the noise as so intense that Engelbert could not be heard.
The incident occurred shortly after Phoenix Mercury player Alyssa Thomas claimed she had received racist abuse and threats after a hard foul on Clark during a game on Wednesday. Thomas stated that she and her family had been threatened, with racial slurs and other hateful messages being sent.
Thomas expressed frustration with the WNBA and Commissioner Engelbert, stating that the league needed to do better and that she had not heard directly from Engelbert regarding the threats or the subsequent one-game suspension she received for the play. "As usual, she remains silent. That's unfortunate when our lives are being threatened," Thomas said.
Social media reactions to the foul on Clark were varied, with some fans accusing Mercury players of being intentionally violent. The incident also sparked broader commentary, with some online users drawing parallels to the murder of George Floyd and alleging racist motivations behind the foul against Clark, who is white.
In response to the escalating situation, Engelbert released a statement condemning hate and emphasizing the league's commitment to player safety. She stated that the league and its security team had been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organization regarding the threats made against Thomas and her teammates.
"The WNBA vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate," Engelbert said in her statement. "The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league's top priority. 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."
Earlier in the day, Engelbert was seen posing for a photo with NFL legend Tom Brady, who is a minority owner of the Las Vegas Aces. The juxtaposition of this interaction with the subsequent boos and the ongoing controversy surrounding player safety and fan behavior highlighted the intense scrutiny on the league and its leadership.