League and Players’ Union Convene on Safety
The WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) leadership met on Tuesday, July 21, to discuss increasing safety concerns among players. This meeting took place in advance of the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game. Participants included WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and members of the WNBPA Executive Committee, as well as the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee.
Following the meeting, a joint statement was released on Wednesday, July 22. The statement highlighted an “honest and meaningful conversation” regarding a recent increase in “racist, hateful, and abusive messages directed at players.” It also addressed other matters before the committees.
Commitment to Enhanced Security and Dialogue
The discussion emphasized the importance of proactive communication to address issues early and to strengthen the relationship between the league and the union. The WNBA has committed to enhancing security resources and plans to collaborate with organizations that align with the league’s values and shared priorities. This initial discussion is intended to be the start of an ongoing dialogue, with both parties united in their commitment to further work together.
The meeting, which also involved league security personnel, occurred after several players raised concerns about their health and safety in recent weeks. Breanna Stewart, WNBPA vice president and New York Liberty forward, described the meeting as a “temperature check” for the first half of the season. She noted that the negative effects from sports betting are significantly impacting many individuals, which is an unintended consequence of the sport’s growing popularity.
Players Speak Out Against Harassment
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas publicly called for action from the WNBA and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. This followed death threats and online abuse she received after a one-game suspension for contact with Caitlin Clark during a game on June 24. Thomas stated that the league had not contacted her regarding the suspension or the incident’s aftermath, expressing disappointment that Engelbert remained silent while players’ lives were being threatened.
In response to Thomas’s comments, Engelbert issued a statement affirming that the safety and well-being of everyone in the community is the league’s top priority. She acknowledged Thomas’s experiences as unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community. According to an anonymous source, Engelbert exchanged text messages with Thomas and offered a phone call, also directing league security to contact Phoenix security amid ongoing threats.
Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray also spoke about the abuse players have faced. Gray shared a screenshot of a racial slur she received via an Instagram direct message, stating that these types of messages were not new and that she decided to share it because “it was just time.” She hoped that making the slur public would provide a realistic view of the experiences of some Black WNBA players, making it impossible for people to ignore. Gray expressed hope that individuals would now reconsider before spreading hate, especially after an employee was dismissed for directing a racial slur at her online.
Elizabeth Williams, WNBPA secretary and Chicago Sky center, indicated that player leadership initiated the meeting. Williams noted that a key goal for the meeting was to encourage league leadership to be more proactive rather than reactive in crisis situations. She observed that issues are often addressed only after controversy or public scrutiny arises, contrasting this with Engelbert’s earlier, more proactive approach that helped build relationships with players. DeWanna Bonner, Thomas’s partner and teammate, who is part of the JEDI committee, was expected to participate in the Tuesday meeting.
The meeting on July 21 aimed to address these critical issues and foster a safer environment for all involved in the WNBA.
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Source: eu.usatoday.com
