Cathy Engelbert has talked herself into a firestorm. Again. She infuriated the WNBA community after dismissing the primary concern of an injury-ridden season. And may have indirectly targeted Caitlin Clark. All her transgressions have put her on the virtual firing line by everyone from A’ja Wilson to Stephen A. Smith. Amid the jarring CBA situation, the WNBA commissioner found one lone—and the most unlikely—supporter.

Jeff Teague plays fast and loose with his support for Caitlin Clark, though he’s big on the W. But his latest stance might reference both the NBA and WNBA. His only statement on this was, “I like what the Commissioner said, though. Only the losers complain about the refs. Yeah. Yeah. And it’s the truth. When you lose, that’s the only time you complain.”

For the uninitiated, Napheesa Collier exposed Cathy Engelbert’s alleged statement from a private chat regarding the ongoing CBA negotiations. Besides apparently claiming that WNBA players and Caitlin Clark “should be on their knees” with gratitude, the commissioner allegedly said, “Only the losers complain about the refs.” 

Several WNBA players may harbor similar grudges against referees. Engelbert’s alleged remarks have further exacerbated the problem. Phee declared her leadership the worst, Sophie Cunningham outright called her “delusional,” and A’ja Wilson denounced the remarks as “disgusting.”

Outside the W, Stephen A. Smith is the first to comment so far, and he ended a long rant with, “I believe she should hand in her resignation.”

He’s not the only one with that demand.

A rumor is even circulating that Cathy Engelbert will step down when the new CBA is established, which is not true. Engelbert and the league have denied Collier’s claims and dismissed rumors.

Jeff Teague’s co-host, DJ Wells, anticipated a similar route, saying, “Listen, the fact that she went at the Commissioner like that and brought the receipts and brought everybody together and go against her, she’s definitely going to get out of there, bro. I don’t know what agreement they gonna have, but they gonna get her out of there for sure.”

It’s pretty evident that Cathy Engelbert is not the most well-liked person in the community right now, and the limited support from Jeff Teague won’t change that. Funny, he says that. Because Jeff Teague has his own history with an NBA referee, and it was uglier than Angel Reese slapping a clipboard.

Jeff Teague’s 2024 ‘referee’ story remains fresh to this day

It’s worth noting that Jeff Teague only commented on the officiating comments Cathy Engelbert allegedly made. Also, the league’s young superstars, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, have been the most vocal critics demanding a change in officiating standards.

Teague personally knows what a sensitive subject officiating is. He once had a blow-up with an NBA referee, Tony Brothers, who allegedly used a derogatory slur for the 2021 NBA champ’s female relatives. “So [Tony Brothers] was trying to be cool,” Teague said on a previous Club 520 podcast episode.

“We playing at the Pacers, I’m on the Hawks. My momma and my aunt was sitting courtside, you know they’re cheering every time I came in the game. I was young, I’m probably in my first or second year. He pulled me to the side, he was like, ‘Man, who them h—?'” Jeff Teague ranted.

Teague went on an expletive-laden tirade against the ref. To date, he remains mad at Brothers. And coincidentally, it wasn’t the first time the tenured ref had a run-in with a player. CP3 once received a tech for calling him a “TikToker,” and Dejounte Murray was a victim of the whistle after merely ignoring him!

Be it the NBA or the WNBA, these refereeing stories just don’t seem to end.