Cathy Engelbert’s relationship with WNBA players seems to be back on the rocks. Last season, the commissioner’s stature took a hit after Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier criticized her leadership and the league’s officiating. This season was supposed to be different, but former Indiana Fever player Layshia Clarendon believes reconciliation remains a tough ask.

“I think about player relationships, and I think back to Napheesa Collier’s comments about reffing, calling out the league,” Clarendon said on the No Offseason podcast. “I think about how the WNBA went through their Collective Bargaining Agreement. Like there seems to be like a strain between Cathy and the players, even though they eventually got a deal done.”

The ratified CBA was supposed to be a turning point in Engelbert’s relationship with the players. The players eventually got what they wanted from the deal. A better salary structure and a historic revenue-sharing model were among the highlights of these negotiations.

“Players are getting that money. But there seems to be like a lack of repair between Cathy and the players, and maybe, like relationally still some just strife, which makes sense. Even though the money is talking and things have happened. So, that’s one thing I’m holding in some context,” Clarendon added.

But since the season tipped off, more and more issues have emerged, pushing the WNBA players and Engelbert further. A recent example involves Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, who didn’t hesitate to call out the WNBA commissioner after she faced major social media backlash for her physical tussle with Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark.

The league had already taken a stern decision, suspending Thomas for a game. But that did little to alleviate the online criticism. Some of the netizens brutally attacked and threatened Thomas on social media. Subsequently, she pointed towards Engelbert, remarking that the Commissioner isn’t speaking out for the players.

“We still have yet to hear anything from Cathy (Engelbert). It’s no surprise,” Thomas had said, as per USA Today. “You can see what’s being said on social media… but as usual, she remains silent, and that’s unfortunate when our lives are being threatened. The league has to do better.”

Engelbert later issued a statement, condemning these attacks. “The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league’s top priority,” her statement read.

There’s also a flip side to the incident. Some analysts have blamed the league and Cathy Engelbert for not doing enough to address the physicality against Clark. Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham herself has voiced this concern in the latest episode of her Show Me Something podcast, saying, “the league and the refs do absolutely nothing about it.”

Nevertheless, Thomas’ statement was enough to put into perspective how players viewed Engelbert’s leadership. If that was not enough, WNBA fans loudly expressed themselves when Engelbert handed the Commissioner’s Cup trophy to the New York Liberty on Tuesday. As she stepped on the scene for the trophy presentation, the crowd welcomed her with a cacophony of boos.

The situation adds another layer to the discontent with Engelbert’s leadership. It also lends more credibility to Layshia Clarendon’s assessment. However, the scrutiny doesn’t end there, as Engelbert’s statement following Thomas’ callout has also come under the microscope.

WNBA Analyst Questions Cathy Engelbert’s Responsibility Towards Players After Her Latest Statement

Cathy Engelbert’s assessment seemingly had nothing to cause an uproar. But the controversy centers on its timing. Speaking on the No Offseason podcast, analyst Zena Keita doubled down on it.

“That’s the line, “We’re aware of Alyssa Thomas’ comments.” It’s like, okay, were you going to be aware of what was happening if Thomas had not made comments?” Keita said. “The next line, “What she and her teammates have gone through is completely unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community.”…Were you going to say all of this before Alyssa Thomas made her comment? That’s where it’s like, yikes. So that’s the first thing that comes to mind.”

Keita’s assessment does make sense. As the WNBA’s figurehead, Engelbert is responsible for standing alongside players. Thus, it raises a question of why the WNBA commissioner waited for Thomas to make a statement. Instead, she could have issued it when the Phoenix forward was in the middle of facing backlash on social media.

It denotes another lapse from the WNBA commissioner in this entire fiasco. Being a commissioner is tough, and even for Engelbert, she is learning it the hard way. As the league’s supremo, every decision of hers will be put to the question. And even a single shortcoming will be framed as a narrative.