WNBA, Union Meet About Reducing Excessive Online Abuse of Players

Embattled WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert held a virtual meeting with representatives of the players’ union this week to discuss what can be done to curtail online harassment.Ms. Engelbert, whose leadership has come into question several times over the last year, held the call Tuesday night in an attempt to strengthen a deteriorating relationship between the league and union that extends back to negotiations over the new collective bargaining agreement.Players have been sharing instances where they have received threats and harassment on social media over the last few weeks. Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury said she received death threats and social media vitriol after she hit Caitlin Clark in the throat a few weeks ago. More recently, Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces posted a message from a man that included a racial slur. The man was tracked down and fired from his job at Hilton Grand Vacations.During the call, arranged at the union’s request, Ms. Engelbert spoke with the players’ union executive committee and the union’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. “The biggest thing was communication,” WNBPA secretary Elizabeth Williams told reporters at shootaround Wednesday before her Chicago team played New York. “Communication from Cathy and the league side being a little more consistent, so we feel more comfortable.”Players have expressed frustration that league executives haven’t been more proactive in addressing online abuse that seems to have escalated with the arrival of Caitlin Clark. The Indiana Fever guard has a devoted following that includes some that take their fandom too far.Ms. Thomas said she received death threats and racial slurs after receiving a one-game suspension when her fist landed on Ms. Clark’s throat last month. No foul was called on the play and Ms. Thomas said, “It was a complete accident.”After reviewing the video, the league retroactively assessed a flagrant 2 foul and suspended Ms. Thomas for one game. That didn’t stop the online abuse.“Now we’re being painted as thugs,” Ms. Thomas said. “There’s death threats out on us. It’s really unacceptable. It’s something that needs to change in this league and I’m just really sick and tired of it.”After Ms. Thomas expressed her disappointment with how the league handled the controversy, Ms. Engelbert released a statement earlier this month condemning online abuse. “The league and our security team have been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organization and remain committed to protecting all players,” the commissioner said.The WNBA introduced the “No Space for Hate” platform last season. Part of that program includes the use of AI technology that players can use to filter out hateful comments.Ahead of this weekend’s All-Star Game in Chicago, the call focused on the need for more accountability from tech companies and having more streamlined conversations between the WNBA and law enforcement.“The conversation underscored the importance of addressing issues early through proactive communication and strengthening the league-union relationship,” the league and union said in a joint statement. “The league is 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.”Online abuse isn’t exclusive to the WNBA, professional athletes in other sports have voiced their frustrations over the amount of online abuse they receive. Matt Fitzpatrick, a major champion golfer, believes sports gambling has much to do with the abuse he receives.“I would say every golfer that’s played a professional tournament has had a message of abuse from someone that is related to gambling,” he said before the Open Championship last week.The fandom surrounding Ms. Clark also appears to be a contributor although the Indiana Fever star has come out publicly against such abuse. “As I’ve stood here and said before, the harassment, the hate, none of that is OK,” Ms. Clark told reporters earlier this month. “That goes for the opposing team we play. That goes for my teammates. That goes for my coaches. There should never be a question of character. I’ve always stood up and said that and that’s truly what I believe.”In March, the WNBA and its players’ union agreed on a transformational new collective bargaining agreement that seeks to enhance security, improve technological support, reinforce mental health resources, enforce a stronger fan code of conduct and protect players through an anti-hate campaign.Identifying the messenger of hate directed at Ms. Gray sends a positive message. “The person responsible for posting this information is no longer with the company,” a spokesman for Hilton Grand Vacations told the Associated Press. “His behavior was in violation of multiple company policies and does not reflect our company’s values in any way.”Natasha Cloud, previously critical that Ms. Engelbert hasn’t done enough to help the players, understands online abuse can’t be totally eliminated.“There’s only so much that the league can do because people are going to be miserable and they’re going to continue to be hateful human beings,” Ms. Cloud told reporters. “But we can find these IP addresses. We can make sure that fans are banned for life from certain arenas, certain teams, certain leagues.”The Aces applauded the firing of the former Hilton Grand Vacations employee who has yet to be identified. “We commend them for the swift manner they acted in addressing this matter,” the Aces said in a statement. “No athlete should ever face this type of abuse for playing the game they love.”

WNBA, Union Meet About Reducing Excessive Online Abuse of Players

WNBA, Union Meet About Reducing Excessive Online Abuse of Players

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