The WNBA needs a new leader. Now

Cathy Engelbert is putting the league in danger of being overrun by charlatans and outside forces. The best players in the world deserve better.

Good morning. Let's basketball.

The WNBA is having a great basketball season. While I haven't been writing about it to give myself a summer break from the heavy lift (and because I'm still about 50% of mental capacity as a WNBA fan compared to the NBA, which I've followed much more closely for much, much longer), I've been watching a good bit and it's excellent. Olivia Miles is an absolute phenomenon: crazy fun, highly unusual, totally effective.

The Valkyries are a remarkable team: No. 2 in the league in their second season. They clinched the playoffs in their first two seasons of existence. Meanwhile, Paige Bueckers has been awesome, the playoffs are lining up for some crazy match-ups and A'ja Wilson is getting awful close to the G.O.A.T. conversation already.

A'ja became the first player in WNBA history to win four MVPs last year. She's almost assuredly winning No. 5 this year. She's 30. She might have a few more in her.

Even the Fever, the lightning-rod team starring Caitlin Clark, who was rocket fuel for the growth in popularity for the league is recent years, plays exciting basketball. They are a joy to watch ...

... if you can ignore all the bulls--t that follows them due to the sociopolitical stigma that has fully attached itself to the franchise.

Such as:

A group of 11 Republican lawmakers, led by U.S. Rep. August Pfluger of Texas, sent a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Wednesday demanding the league take "accountability" for "multiple attacks" against Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.

In the letter, Clark is described as "the face of your league" and someone who has generated fan interest, increased television ratings and new corporate sponsors. It suggests that the third-year guard is on the receiving end of "unnecessary physical hostility and violence," such as hip-checking, eye-poking and recently, being struck in the throat.

The lawmakers said they're concerned by reports that "attacks against Clark may be racially motivated."

As well as:

This innovation by Sophie Cunningham – bringing Libs of TikTok energy to a league whose foundation fandom skews queer and socially progressive – led to ... this cursed story cycle.

Anti-trans protests are now following the Fever around the league, both outside the arena before tip-off and inside. The protesters are claiming to be WNBA fans concerned about the sanctity of women's sports. Sportico went to the pre-game protest and counter-protest before Fever vs. Liberty the other day. You tell me which side supports women's sports.

LMAOOOOOOOOOO somebody finally asked the transphobes if they know any WNBA players besides and NOPE

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— Rodger Sherman (@rodger.bsky.social) August 23, 2026 at 5:19 AM

Fame-seeking Enes Kanter Freedom himself showed up courtside to the Fever's game in Chicago Sunday night on national TV. And this happened.