WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert met virtually with the players' union executive committee and the union's Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee on Tuesday night to discuss enhanced protections against online harassment, a meeting requested by the players themselves.
The call, which took place amid a surge in vitriolic social media attacks directed at WNBA players in recent weeks, resulted in a joint statement Wednesday outlining the league's commitment to strengthening security resources. The league also agreed to explore collaborations with organizations aligned with its values and work more closely with the players' union on shared priorities.
"The biggest thing was communication," said WNBPA secretary Elizabeth Williams of the Chicago Sky, summarizing the players' key demand after the meeting. "Communication from Cathy and the league side being a little more consistent, so we feel more comfortable."
The conversation was prompted by a series of harassment incidents. Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray shared a message containing a racial slur from a man who was subsequently identified and fired from his position at Hilton Grand Vacations. Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun received death threats after an on-court incident involving Caitlin Clark; Thomas said at the time she had not heard from the league about the threats. Natasha Cloud, who had previously criticized Engelbert's response to player safety concerns, softened her stance after Tuesday's discussions.
"There's only so much that the league can do because people are going to be miserable and they're going to continue to be hateful human beings," Cloud said. "We can find these IP addresses. We can make sure that bans are banned for life from certain arenas, certain teams, certain leagues."
Additional measures discussed included holding technology companies more accountable for content on their platforms and streamlining communication channels between the WNBA and law enforcement agencies.
The WNBA had already introduced its "No Space for Hate" platform last season, which includes AI-powered tools enabling players to filter hateful comments. When harassment escalates beyond social media, the league's security office launches investigations.
The meeting represents a step toward mending the strained relationship between Engelbert and the players, though union representatives noted there is still work to be done on building trust and ensuring consistent communication.
Sources
- https://apnews.com/article/wnba-online-harassment-union-engelbert-gray-9eb163cf53a9e6e33b4215fdfa6d75ee
- https://apnews.com/article/wnba-all-star-2026-commissioner-engelbert-dda2e51db2a1e22d554e97e29c21077e
