Engelbert was asked on CNBC about the "darker" tone taken by fan bases on social media that brings race and sometimes sexuality into the conversation.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert failed the league Tuesday. It was a softball question. During an extended interview on CNBC, anchor Tyler Mathisen asked Engelbert to address the “menacing turn” that WNBA fandom has taken while seeding racism and misogyny into everyday sports conversation.

"Here is the answer that the commissioner should have provided," the WNBPA's Terri Jackson wrote. "There is absolutely no place in sport — or in life — for the vile hate, racist language, homphobic comments and misogynistic attacks our players are facing on social media.

Cathy Engelbert apologized to players for botching an opportunity to call out unhinged fans. Here’s what she said.

WNBA players and their union spoke out against commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s recent comments that failed to condemn racist and bitter criticism from fans toward the Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert admits that she "missed the mark" on her recent comments regarding Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert wrote in a letter to the league's players that she "missed the mark" in an interview when she was asked about the abusive rhetoric players face on social media.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has issued an apology for her comments earlier this week about racism and sexism that players experience from some fan

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has now apologized for an answer she gave about hateful speech directed toward players on social media. According to ESPN, Engelbert sent out a letter in which she expressed regret for her comments.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert wrote in a letter to all of the league's players that she "missed the mark" in an interview when she was asked about the abusive rhetoric players face on social media.