WNBA commissioner 'part of the problem' after making controversial Caitlin Clark comments

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has found herself in hot water with fans who have accused her of being "part of the problem" following her comments on the soaring popularity of the league. Engelbert suggested that the surge wasn't solely due to the charismatic performances of Caitlin Clark.

Since stepping up from women's college basketball into the pros with Indiana Fever, Clark has continued to shine. She smashed through the league by setting 11 records in her first season and clinching Rookie of the Year honours.

Clark's stunning debut season, where she averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists (a league-high), and 5.7 rebounds per game, coincided with a record viewership for the WNBA, which hit an average of 657,000 - the highest in nearly 25 years.

Despite this, Engelbert caused some controversy stopping short of attributing the league-wide attention spike to Clark alone. "She's clearly an unbelievable player," the commissioner admitted.

"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."

However, her comments sparked a backlash from the player's devoted fanbase, who took to social media to express their disagreement. One fan hit back, saying: "The commissioner is clearly part of the problem, not part of the solution.

"Clark is the goose that lays golden eggs, and the entire WNBA is intent upon denying it. If the commissioner doesn't stop the hate and most importantly stop the abusive physical treatment of Clark by other players, and do something about the incompetent refs, the goose will leave and nobody will care about the WNBA again."

Another fan agreed, suggesting: "Sure, every player is important to growing the league popularity and not just the rookies, the veterans as well. But let's be honest here, there are just some players that put butts in seats night after night. We all know who they are."

A third supporter added: "I followed LSU and Reese all thru college but if not for CC I would never have watched on WNBA game. I feel like there are many that feel the same way. We would all be saying Angel Reese WHO, if not for CC. Now of course the commissioner has to say different, but she knows the truth."