WNBA commissioner issues clear Angel Reese response when asked about Caitlin Clark

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has set the record straight and emphasised that Angel Reese is just as crucial as Caitlin Clark in driving the league's surge in popularity.

While many fans have credited Clark and her devoted fan base, initially built during her remarkable stint at Iowa under Lisa Bluder, for the league's massive popularity boost in the 2024 season, Engelbert disagrees.

The commissioner pointed out that the rivalry between Clark and Reese, which began during their college days when they clashed on the court, has contributed significantly to the league's growth.

In an interview on '60 Minutes' Engelbert was directly asked about the 'Caitlin Clark phenomenon' but instead attributed the league's success to a diverse range of stars, including Reese and other high-profile rookies.

"She's clearly an unbelievable player," Engelbert said of Clark. "Came in with an unbelievable following, has brought a lot of new fans to the league. If you look at our historic season in terms of our attendance, viewership - Caitlin, Angel Reese, too, Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink. This class of rookies, we will be talking about them a generation from now.

"No league is ever about one player. That one player could get hurt, or whatever. So I think it's just to give recognition that in sports, people watch for compelling content and rivalries, and you can't do that alone as one person."

Engelbert talked up the rivalry between Clark and Reese, having been asked specifically about the racial divide between Clark and Reese's fanbases last month, which could lead to toxicity among the league's supporters.

Instead, she highlighted the financial boon drawn from the athletes' rivalry, a move that drew prompt criticism from the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA); they condemned the commissioner for sidestepping a direct address of the racial tensions.

The WNBPA has made it crystal clear that the league will not tolerate any form of racist or sexist abuse from fans, stating that such toxic behaviour "demands immediate action."

Key figures within the league have raised their voices against the growing number of incidents involving fans, while New York Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu have put forward ideas on how to tackle the issue.

Similarly, Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner has voiced her stance, insisting on swift league action against such comments to allow players to enjoy their game without hindrance.

Clark's coach Christie Sides delivered a heartfelt statement about the racial abuse targeting her players and others across the league on social media platforms. Moreover, Clark herself condemned those who misuse her name to further a racist narrative against fellow stars in the league.

"Nobody in our league should be facing any sort of racism, hurtful, disrespectful, hateful comments, and threats," declared the 22-year-old athlete. "Those aren't fans. Those are trolls, and it's a real disservice to the people in our league, the organization, the WNBA."