NEW YORK \u2014 WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the online vitriol players face is \u201cunacceptable\u201d as she spoke at an event on Thursday evening.<\/p>\n
As a panelist at the CNBC\/Boardroom Game Plan event alongside Diana Taurasi, three-time WNBA champion,\u00a0 and Kristyn Cook, State Farm\u2019s executive vice president and chief agency of sales and marketing, Engelbert was asked how the league can grow the game while limiting toxicity. She said the conversations around the WNBA are like a \u201cmicrocosm in a broader society.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vitriol and everything that our players receive, and I\u2019m sure Diana can remember this, is unacceptable,\u201d Engelbert said. \u201cBut there\u2019s so much good in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Engelbert went on to discuss the record-breaking rookie season Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles is having and the 53-point performance Toronto Tempo guard Marina Mabrey had against the Los Angeles Sparks in June.<\/p>\n
But amid those \u201cincredible stories,\u201d players have spoken about a lack of support they feel from the league as they navigate racism, harassment and even death threats online. Phoenix Mercury veteran Alyssa Thomas recently criticized Engelbert\u2019s engagement<\/a> on this issue after Thomas said she received online abuse following a controversial foul against Caitlin Clark and received a one-game suspension<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAs usual, she remains silent, and that\u2019s unfortunate when our lives are being threatened,\u201d Thomas said last month.<\/p>\n On Thursday, Engelbert highlighted the WNBA\u2019s initiatives to address the harassment, including the league\u2019s use of AI technology to monitor and respond to threats, harassment and hate directed at players online. All teams are required, as outlined in the new collective bargaining agreement, to employ at least one security officer to be with players during all team-related activities.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a challenge,\u201d Engelbert said. \u201cI\u2019ve solved a lot of complex things in my career before I even got here, and this is a challenge because it\u2019s social media, it\u2019s societal.\u201d<\/p>\n Engelbert said the league will \u201ccontinue to chip away at it.\u201d<\/p>\n