More eyeballs are on the WNBA than ever before, which unfortunately for the league, means it has some explaining to do when it comes to why there’s been an apparent increase in physicality, fouls, and bullying this season.
And while Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has seemingly been at the center of all things controversial with the league this season — she’s been knocked around by most of her opponents, she’s been fouled hard on multiple occasions, and she was front-and-center in a few instances of fan harassment toward players — the league seems to be well aware that its biggest issues go beyond just Clark.
“I know there’s that perception (about bullying) and obviously we’re the best women’s basketball league in the world,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert recently told the Daily Mail. “I think people love watching our game, and it is physical. Everyone thinks it’s just Caitlin, but everybody’s getting bumped.”
With Clark in particular, many have noticed opposing players taking more liberties with how aggressively and physically they’ve played her this season, and the reigning Rookie of the Year has the battle scars to show for it.
She’s missed 14 of the Fever’s 27 games this season due to a handful of injuries including a left quadriceps sprain, a left goring strain, and a right groin strain (not all of which were caused by other players).
Despite the number of fouls she’s drawn and the physical beating Clark’s body has taken this season, Englebert applauded the Iowa alum for how she’s taken everything in stride.
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“All our players are experiencing it,” Englebert continued. “Caitlin has been great. She’s handled it great. I’m proud of Caitlin on how she’s handled all this. I’m proud of all the others and how they’re handling it with grace. But it’s a physical game on the court, and I think players understand that.”
Englebert also noted beyond the player-on-player turmoil, the WNBA also has an issue with how the players are being treated by fans too. And she’s the only one to speak out against it.
Minnesota Lynx star and MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier sounded off during a recent appearance on the “A Touch More” podcast about how fans have been treating players, calling it “toxic” and “disappointing” behavior — a sentiment Englebert seemingly agrees with.
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“It’s obviously unacceptable, the vitriol that’s out there for not just WNBA players, but female athletes,” Englebert added. “They get it harder than anyone else. I get it as a female commissioner. … It’s just unfortunate that we’re in a society where a lot of people can type things with no accountability.
“[Players] have been experiencing it for a long time, but social media now is so widespread, and we’ve brought tens of millions of more fans into the league. So I think it’s heightened… but we also have to try to do as much as we can to fight against it.”