WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has canceled a scheduled appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, with host Dan Patrick attributing the decision to the league's public relations team amid ongoing controversy surrounding player Caitlin Clark. Engelbert was slated to appear on the show Thursday in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, where she was attending the American Century Championship golf tournament.
Patrick stated that his show waited nearly two hours for Engelbert, and after multiple attempts to contact the WNBA, received a "feeble" response indicating that the commissioner was advised against the interview by WNBA PR staff. Patrick suggested that if the league wishes to be considered a top professional league, its commissioner should be prepared to address difficult questions.
The controversy follows an incident during a recent Indiana Fever game where Clark was punched in the throat by Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas. The league's response to the incident has drawn criticism, with some believing it has not adequately protected Clark. Earlier in the week, a group of 11 Republican lawmakers, led by U.S. Rep. August Pfluger of Texas, sent a letter to Engelbert demanding accountability for what they described as "multiple attacks" on Clark, whom they characterized as "the face of your league."
Following the incident, Thomas reported facing online racial abuse and threats to herself and her family. She expressed frustration with the WNBA and Engelbert's perceived silence on the matter, stating that she learned of her suspension via social media and had yet to hear directly from the commissioner. Thomas criticized the narrative being painted around the incident, deeming the threats unacceptable and calling for change within the league.
According to ESPN, Engelbert and Thomas did exchange text messages, and the commissioner directed league security to contact Phoenix Mercury security regarding the threats to Thomas. Engelbert also issued a statement last week condemning hate and emphasizing the league's priority on player safety. The statement acknowledged Thomas's experiences as unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community, adding that the league and its security team were in contact with the Mercury organization to ensure player protection.