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WNBA and commissioner Cathy Engelbert face credibility issue regarding player harassment

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WNBA and commissioner Cathy Engelbert face credibility issue regarding player harassment

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark didn’t like what she heard from a fan late in the first quarter of Wednesday’s playoff loss at Connecticut and motioned for officials to remove the man from his second-row seat. In the relative blink of an eye, security tapped the person on the shoulder and escorted him to a less visible area, where a discussion took place.

Ultimately, the person was allowed to return to his seat. And although the incident lasted only a few minutes, the optics figure to linger within the WNBA community because they raised the question of whether the league has a double standard when dealing with harassment complaints. More starkly, the swift resolution of a complaint from a White athlete stood out against the months of silence Black players received from the league office as they were targets of race-fueled hate on social media and in arenas.

 

The influx of attention to the WNBA that followed Clark and fellow rookie Angel Reese into the league has threatened the reputation it has worked hard to cultivate, for inclusivity, empathy and tolerance. It also has called into question the leadership of commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who contributed to the toxicity earlier this month when she ostensibly said racism is good for a growing business.

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She was asked during a CNBC interview what the league was doing to stay ahead of the “darker” and “more menacing” commentary from fan bases on social media. Instead of directly condemning the vitriol, she sidestepped the question by suggesting that the rivalry between Clark and Reese is good because it has brought a lot of eyes and interest to the league, not to mention more corporate dollars to players. They should simply ignore unsavory comments, she said.

She may not have meant to imply that increased revenue is an acceptable excuse for overt racism, but that’s how the players union and some of its members interpreted her words. Their public condemnation of Engelbert’s comments caused the commissioner to clarify her remarks the following day on social media — “To be clear, there is absolutely no place for hate or racism of any kind in the WNBA or anywhere else,” she posted — and send letters to every player in the league promising future engagement.

That was a positive, if obvious, first step for a problem that continues to worsen. Connecticut standout Alyssa Thomas spoke about it Wednesday night after knocking the Fever out of the playoffs.

“In my 11-year career, I’ve never experienced (anything like) the racial comments from the Indiana Fever fan base,” she said, adding: “It’s unacceptable, honestly. There’s no place for it. We’ve been professional throughout the whole entire thing, but I’ve never been called the things that I’ve been called on social media. There’s no place for it. Basketball is headed in a great direction, but we don’t want fans that are going to degrade us and call us racial names. … Something needs to be done.”

The WNBA issued a statement condemning racism and pledging to work with teams, arenas and law enforcement to address the issue, but what does that really mean? And why should anyone believe Engelbert has the answer? It’s mind-numbing how ill-prepared she has been to meet this moment, even when everyone knew Clark and Reese were bringing large and loyal fan bases to the league that tend to fall along racial and cultural lines.

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Engelbert’s failure to get it right the first time was disappointing and disturbing because you only get one chance to make a first impression on a topic of such importance.

Connecticut wing DiJonai Carrington provided a reminder of the league’s sidestepping before Wednesday’s game with a post on her Instagram story. It featured a screenshot of an email she received after she inadvertently, according to her and Clark, poked Clark in the eye in Game 1. The email called her a “worthless n—– b—-” and said, “I hope someone rapes you and cuts your head off.”

Some fans at Mohegan Sun Arena on Wednesday went beyond the normal cheers and jeers seen at most sporting events. A woman wore a T-shirt that read “BAN NAILS,” and held up hands that featured uncomically long nails made of colored paper, a troubling caricature of Carrington and Black culture. Another man, wearing a red Donald Trump baseball cap, held up a sign that read “Make Basketball Great again #22,” a nod to Clark’s jersey number. So much for those calls to keep politics out of sports, right?

Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner said Thursday there should be a uniform harassment policy.

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“I don’t appreciate the new fans that sit there and yell racial slurs at myself, my teammates and the people that I play against,” she said, adding: “We all deserve to play in a safe environment.”

GO DEEPER

WNBA denounces negative messages sent to players

Carrrington’s girlfriend is NaLyssa Smith, who plays for the Fever. Following Wednesday’s game, Smith disclosed that Carrington has been followed and received death threats.  Reese has described receiving the same treatment after mocking Clark in LSU’s NCAA championship game victory two seasons ago. She expanded on that Thursday in a social media post.

“For the past 2 years, the media has benefited from my pain & me being villainized to create a narrative,” she wrote. “They allowed this. This was beneficial to them. I sometimes share my experiences of things that have happened to me but I’ve also allowed this to happen to me for way too long and now other players in this league are dealing with & experiencing the same things. This isn’t ok at all. Anything beyond criticism about playing the game we love is wrong. I’m sorry to all the players that have/continue to experience the same things I have.”

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Clark on Friday also criticized the attacks in terms similar to comments she has made previously this season.

“Nobody in our league should be facing any sort of racism, hurtful, disrespectful, hateful comments and threats,” she said. “Those aren’t fans. Those are trolls and it’s a real disservice to the people in our league, the organization, the WNBA.”

While Clark’s sentiments are welcome, calling these attackers “trolls” is too simplistic and dismissive. Racist attacks are perpetrated by racists. This isn’t about being edgy or simply gaslighting.

The league and its teams are not helpless in this matter. Hate can never be fully eradicated; it’s as much a part of this country’s history as stars and stripes. But there are steps that can be taken. For one, teams can control who and what are brought into their arenas. The only reason someone would connect Trump’s campaign slogan to a sporting event featuring predominately Black and/or queer women is to provoke a response that has nothing to do with basketball. Ditto for the woman wearing Wolverine-like paper fingernails.

Teams also can cross-check the names on social media accounts that post hateful content with names of season ticket holders. If a match is found, that person can be banned from attending games.

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Lastly, Engelbert can hire someone who has the expertise and skill to help the league navigate the intersectionality of race, culture, sexuality and misogyny. That person would help restore the league’s reputation as a place where the concerns of Black and queer players are as important as those of a straight, White, Midwesterner.

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(Photo of Cathy Engelbert: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)

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Legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg slams notion of overseas Super Bowl: ‘Convention of Americana’

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Legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg slams notion of overseas Super Bowl: ‘Convention of Americana’

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It’s no secret one of the NFL’s top priorities is continuing to build its brand globally.

But with the addition of more international games in different countries, including the NFL season reportedly kicking off on a Wednesday with a game in Melbourne, Australia in 2026 (it will technically be Thursday for Australians), the question must be asked: Will the Super Bowl end up overseas?

Legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg can’t see it happening despite all the international momentum.

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A wide view of play in the first half during an NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. (Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images)

“The Super Bowl has become a convention of Americana,” Steinberg told Fox News Digital during a recent phone call. “So, it’s not just an entertainment event – it’s a cultural event. Big business, big politics, big entertainment and big sports, along with fans, all coalesce in the city. To take that overseas, I think would be difficult.”

The NFL’s first regular-season game in its history was 2005, when the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers traveled to Mexico City to play. But two years later, the league launched its “International Series,” a game between the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium in London, England that kickstarted the push to continue bringing NFL games to overseas fans.

BROADCASTER TIM BRANDO SUGGESTS SPORTS FANS GET CONFUSED WHERE TO WATCH GAMES AS STREAMING TAKES OVER

Of course, every league wants to expand its reach, and the NFL has done a tremendous job of scheduling more games by the year, while also interacting in different ways with those fans, whether it’s through the NFL Draft or other activations. 

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In 2026, there will be a record nine international regular-season games played, spanning across four different continents and seven different locations.

Leigh Steinberg attends the 39th Annual Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Party at Storek on Feb. 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California.  (Jesse Grant/Getty Images)

Other than Melbourne and London, where there will be three games, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Munich, Madrid and Mexico City will all be host sites for the NFL in 2026.

But while fans continue to consume these games, some marking it on their calendars to travel to watch their favorite teams, do the teams themselves like it?

“They have mixed feelings,” Steinberg said. “They actually like the travel aspect of it, seeing different cultures and other things. But it takes a physical toll. I mean, to fly from [the West Coast] to London is 12 hours. Then, to fly back, it’s 14 hours. When you start moving east in Europe, it gets longer than that. So, it takes a physical toll.

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“I think that if you ask the coaches, they don’t love international games, because it takes them out of the routine and schedule.”

Steinberg believes there needs to be more research done on the effects that jetlag and travel have on the human body, and whether it’s impacting the quality of play as well.

There’s no stopping the global push by the league, but will there come a point where it’s too much, especially for players and coaches to handle during a grueling season?

STEINBERG’S COMEBACK

While talking all things football, Steinberg also discussed life and how his fight through adversity led to him writing “The Comeback: A Playbook for Turning Life’s Setbacks into Victories.”

Leigh Steinberg speaks onstage during the 39th Annual Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Party at Storek on Feb. 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California.  (Jesse Grant/Getty Images)

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Steinberg had built an empire by representing the best athletes in the world, but he also dealt with alcoholism and financial struggles, ultimately bringing him to rock bottom. But he rebuilt himself through those hard times, and with this book, he’s hoping to help others do the same. 

Also sharing stories of athletes dealing with similar adversities, Steinberg believes all readers should come away with this lesson learned. 

“Internal introspection,” he said. “A realistic understanding of your own values and priorities, whether it’s short-term economic gain, long-term economic security, spiritual values, family. It’s to have clarity internally in terms of what really constitutes a fulfilling life. Then, coming up with a plan to get back to that.”

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Boys’ basketball player of the year: Maxi Adams of Sierra Canyon

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Boys’ basketball player of the year: Maxi Adams of Sierra Canyon

When you’re already an All-American in high school and several new players show up perhaps as talented as you, the challenge is developing chemistry and seeing who’s going to remain humble and unselfish for the good of the team.

Maxi Adams, Sierra Canyon’s 6-foot-8 senior, was the big man on campus until another All-American, Brandon McCoy, showed up this season, along with Brannon Martinsen, a former Trinity League player of the year. Not only did Adams welcome them, he adjusted his game and changed his role.

“Anything for the win,” he said. “Trust the coach’s game plan.”

Maxi Adams of Sierra Canyon rises to deliver a dunk against Harvard-Westlake in Open Division championship game.

(Steve Galluzzo)

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Adams continued to contribute as a scorer, rebounder and defender, and when the games got much more important in the playoffs, he asserted himself and delivered, such as a 26-point performance in the Southern Section Open Division final.

The North Carolina-bound Adams has been selected The Times’ boys basketball player of the year for the 2025-26 season.

Sierra Canyon went 30-1 and won the Southern Section Open Division championship and state Open Division title even though Adams was injured in the first quarter of the state final. He averaged 16 points and 7.2 rebounds with 10 double doubles.

“He’s a great player,” said Harvard-Westlake coach David Rebibo, whose team lost three times to Sierra Canyon.

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Adams’ development of his skills and maturity over his four years of high school, first at Narbonne, then Gardena Serra and his final two seasons at Sierra Canyon, have been impressive. He went from being uncomfortable as a freshman to being versatile, confident and a leader as a senior.

His willingness to embrace the changes at Sierra Canyon this season were key.

“It wasn’t hard,” he said. “We played well together and spent a lot of time together. At the next level, you’re going to have to be able to play with great players. I just carry that forward.”

His older brother, Marcus, was a standout at Narbonne and played this past season at Arizona State after previously being at Cal State Northridge. For Maxi to handle things this season with his brother far away showed he’s ready to embark on his own journey in college basketball.

As for his mentality, Adams said, “We come to work every single time. We put in the time.”

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No 12 High Point falls short of Sweet Sixteen bid after late run by four-seed Arkansas

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No 12 High Point falls short of Sweet Sixteen bid after late run by four-seed Arkansas

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No. 12 High Point put everyone on notice for the second time in as many games this March Madness, but could not find the same success.

After advancing to the Round of 32 following an upset victory over No. 5 Wisconsin, the Panthers’ season ended after No. 4 Arkansas ran away from them late Saturday night.

High Point led by as many as five early in the game, and they were up 56-52 with 14:17 to go after going on a 12-2 run. 

Both teams exchanged buckets for several minutes, with no one expanding their respective leads by more than three points for a little while.

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High Point Panthers head coach Flynn Clayman and guard Rob Martin (3) react in the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. (Craig Strobeck/Imagn Images)

With 7:04 to play, the Panthers took a 72-71 lead, to which the Razorbacks responded with a 10-2 run, putting them up by seven and giving them their largest lead of the night.

The game was then quickly tied at 83 after a wild run by High Point, but over the final 3:19, Arkansas outscored High Point, 11-5, to snatch the victory, despite a valiant effort from the Panthers.

High Point Panthers forward Terry Anderson (5) drives against Arkansas Razorbacks forward Malique Ewin (12) and forward Billy Richmond III (24) in the second half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. (Craig Strobeck/Imagn Images)

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VANDERBILT’S HAIL MARY SHOT MISSES BY NARROWEST OF MARGINS AS NEBRASKA ADVANCES TO SWEET 16 IN EPIC FASHION

Arkansas was favored by 11.5, and while they couldn’t cover, it was another Sweet 16 appearance for legendary head coach John Calipari.

Two Panthers, Rob Martin (30) and Cam’Ron Fletcher (25), combined for 55 points, but Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas trumped everyone by dropping 36.

Arkansas will face the winner of No. 1 Arizona and No. 9 Utah State in the Sweet 16.

High Point Panthers head coach Flynn Clayman and forward Braden Hausen (15) react in the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. (Craig Strobeck/Imagn Images)

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High Point’s victory over Wisconsin on Thursday marked their first ever in March Madness after making the tournament last year for the first time.

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