​This week, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert found herself at the center of a wave of outrage after she abruptly reversed course and chose not to participate in a scheduled interview on The Dan Patrick Show. The decision came amid a string of media controversies surrounding Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, which had already put the league under intense scrutiny. Now, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has joined the chorus of critics, voicing renewed dissatisfaction with how the WNBA is managed.
On Friday afternoon, Dan Patrick, host of The Dan Patrick Show, announced that Engelbert failed to appear for a previously arranged interview and did not notify the show of her cancellation until several hours later. “Yesterday, after the show, we waited almost two hours for her,” Patrick explained. “This was scheduled. She was going to do a conference call from her hotel room, and then she was going to join us.” Patrick noted that producer Todd Fritz waited around 90 minutes for an update while the program was on standby, hoping for Engelbert’s appearance. He believed the interview would offer a chance for the commissioner to address challenging topics concerning Caitlin Clark and the league’s direction.
“We’re waiting to interview her. They didn’t push back on anything, didn’t say you can’t ask anything. And we thought, okay, we’re going to be able to finally ask questions about Caitlin Clark, the WNBA, expansion, a lot of different things,” Patrick said. “We waited, and we waited, and then Todd got word that the commissioner said the WNBA PR staff said she is not allowed to do this. You’re the commissioner, and you’re listening to the PR department, which is fine, but did you check with PR before you said yes to us? We promoted it all day yesterday. I know people get busy, people have agendas. It was her opportunity to finally say, ‘You can ask me the tough questions.’ I thought this was going to be a good thing for the WNBA. People still want answers here. There are so many opinions and agendas… would the questions be tough? Yes. And I’m sure that had something to do with it.”
Portnoy has long been outspoken in his criticisms of the WNBA, labeling it “the worst marketed league in the history of leagues.” He did not hold back this week, once again taking aim at Engelbert. In a post on X, Portnoy criticized the commissioner for claiming that WNBA PR would prevent the interview, arguing that such a restriction is not how it works. “This is one of my biggest pet peeves in the world. When people like Cathy Engelbert say they can’t do something because their agent or PR said so. THEY WORK FOR YOU. Absolute coward move. Anyway this is just yet another example of what [clown] show the WNBA is. Worst run league in the world,” Portnoy wrote on X.
The situation has underscored ongoing debates about the WNBA’s leadership and its public-facing strategy. Critics argue that Engelbert’s decision to back away from a candid, on-air exchange with a prominent host reflects a broader pattern of managing media narratives rather than engaging directly with tough questions from the press. Supporters, on the other hand, contend that a commissioner’s schedule constraints and strategic communications considerations can justify avoiding certain interviews, especially when it might complicate league messaging during sensitive times.
The episode has amplified the discourse around Caitlin Clark’s role and the league’s expansion plans, prompting responses from fans and media alike who are eager for transparent explanations from the WNBA’s top leadership. As the league continues to navigate these controversies, all eyes will remain on Engelbert and her team to determine whether and how they will address immediate questions about governance, market strategy, and the future direction of the WNBA.