WNBA, Union Trying to Make Peace Amid Player Safety Concerns

Amid growing concerns about player security, the WNBA and its players’ union are searching for solutions.

The WNBA and WNBPA issued a joint statement Wednesday afternoon following a meeting between leadership on both sides Tuesday night focused on player security:

“Last night, WNBA leadership and members of the WNBPA Executive Committee and Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee met for an honest and meaningful conversation about the recent increase in racist, hateful, and abusive messages directed at players, as well as other matters before the committees.

The conversation underscored the importance of addressing issues early through proactive communication and strengthening the league-union relationship. The league committed to continuing to enhance security resources and will work with the players’ union to explore collaborations with organizations that share the values of our league and advance our shared priorities.

Yesterday’s discussion marked the beginning of an ongoing dialogue, and we are united in our commitment to building on this work together.”

Nneka Ogwumike, Napheesa Collier, Brianna Turner, Alysha Clark, Breanna Stewart, and Elizabeth Williams represented the WNBPA executive committee on the call. Aliyah Edwards and DeWanna Bonner attended for the JEDI committee, whose members also include Stewart and Clark. WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson also attended the call.

The league was represented by Cathy Engelbert and Leon Newsome, the head of security for the NBA and WNBA.

The conversation around WNBA player security has been heightened over the past month after Alyssa Thomas struck Caitlin Clark in the throat during a game in June. Thomas was retroactively given a Flagrant 2 and one-game suspension from the league for what it deemed as a “non-basketball act.”

Thomas said she received death threats following the incident and called out Engelbert to better protect players. Williams said that the players felt there would have been less backlash had the officials made the call in the moment. 

Earlier Wednesday, Williams told reporters in New York that the meeting was “good” and that she feels more active steps will be taken to improve player security, including streamlined communication with league and team security. 

She also said Engelbert admitted the need to improve communication between the league and players. The idea is that there will be more meetings between the two sides. On Friday, Ogwumike told Front Office Sports that she, Engelbert, and Jackson have a scheduled monthly meeting.

Speaking to reporters in early July, Clark denounced the hate levied at all parties following the incident with Thomas: “The harassment, the hate, none of that is okay. That goes for the opposing team we play, that goes for my teammates, that goes for my coaches.”

A few weeks later, Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray revealed on Instagram that she was called a racial slur in a direct message, apparently sent by a sports bettor. A source told FOS that the meeting between the players and Engelbert was requested before Thomas’s callout or Gray’s post.

Ogwumike said Friday that her hope with the call was for the league to better work with the players to find solutions to the slew of issues they’re facing, with player security in the forefront.

“My sentiment now is just that we’re getting the perspective of as many players as we can. And also understand that a lot of the issues that we deal with are kind of pressed on the players to solve, that were problems that they didn’t start on their own,” Ogwumike said.

“This has never been a league that wants to propagate narratives centered around racism, sexism, homophobia, discrimination. Quite frankly, we stand on the opposite type of platform and we still do. I do think that there’s so much going on right now, that it’s not just one conversation or one issue that has to be handled. I think there’s a lot of different ways for us to handle it. But one thing that I won’t ever subscribe to is for players to be the only ones to solve the issues that are occurring.”

The 11-time All-Star also said the media and fans also hold a role in ensuring a safer environment for players.

“I also do believe that it’s not just on us, it’s not just on the league. It’s also on media, it’s also on the fans. I think we have to come together and figure out the parts that we’re playing in this to ensure that this league is what it’s meant to be. Notwithstanding the naturalness of a pro sports league. Everything’s not going to be marshmallows and candy—and I think we all understand that. But I do think we always have to keep the main thing the main thing, and that is the basketball.”