WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is facing one of the biggest challenges of her tenure. While the league is experiencing unprecedented growth—driven in large part by the Caitlin Clark phenomenon—it is also dealing with growing frustration from players who believe the Indiana Fever star receives too much of the spotlight.
The WNBA is enjoying the strongest period in its history, setting records in attendance, merchandise sales, television ratings, and overall commercial impact. Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has been widely credited as one of the biggest reasons behind that surge.
Caitlin Clark takes a blow to the throat, and officials don’t call a foul
That success has also translated into better pay for the players. Before the start of the 2026 season, the league and the players’ union agreed to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that significantly improved salaries and working conditions.
Cathy Engelbert caught between Caitlin Clark and the rest of the WNBA
However, according to a report from the Sports Business Journal, Clark’s meteoric rise has placed Engelbert in an extremely delicate position.
Sources close to the league say the commissioner is trying to strike a balance between supporting the most popular player in women’s basketball while ensuring other stars do not feel pushed into the background.
Is there jealousy over Caitlin Clark’s popularity?
The report claims that several players believe Clark’s overwhelming media attention has overshadowed their own accomplishments, forcing the league to walk a very fine line.
“A source close to Engelbert said league ref ops and basketball ops personnel commonly make recommendations after potential flagrant foul calls, and that’s what happened with the Thomas decision. Other sources close to Engelbert have said she is in an unenviable position—trying not to show favoritism toward the uber-popular Clark while also trying to appease players who believe they’ve been overshadowed by Clark. The death threats against (Alyssa) Thomas, post-incident, are an example of what other WNBA players are dealing with,” Sports Business Journal reported.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) tosses the ball during a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks
The report adds that, ironically, some voices around the league believe Engelbert has gone too far in her effort to avoid appearing biased toward Clark.
“But critics leaguewide, sources said, believe Engelbert has gone overboard not to prioritize the Fever star, and they point to the fact she has not once attended a Fever game in Indianapolis since Clark arrived three seasons ago.”
Meanwhile, the Indiana Fever are enjoying one of their best stretches of the season, and with Caitlin Clark continuing to recover from her injury, they are emerging as a legitimate contender for the 2026 WNBA championship.