“There’s a difference between racism and rivalries.”

Women’s basketball circles have been buzzing with reaction to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s comments on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” this week.?

And it wasn’t good for the commish.?

The question asked by anchor Tyler Mathisen was about the “darker ... more menacing” tone taken by fans on social media, specifically when it comes to racist and sexist remarks that proliferated when Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese entered the league this summer. ?

The answer was all business, no empathy.?

Engelbert relied on the popular comparison of Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese to the storied NBA rivalry of Larry Bird-Magic Johnson.?

“[T]he one thing I know about sports, you need rivalry. That's what makes people watch. They want to watch games of consequence between rivals. They don't want everybody being nice to one another,” she said.?

When pointed out that the Bird-Johnson rivalry didn’t have social media, she noted that her advice to players is that “if someone's typing something and you wouldn't ask their advice, ignore it."?

Let’s unpack that for a moment:?

• Sure, people like rivalries. Fans like to cheer for their teams and against others. But as Las Vegas Aces' guard Kelsey Plum said, “It's pretty clear, there's a difference between rivalries and racism. Big difference." ?The energy of a rivalry? Great. Racism and misogyny directed at players online and in person? Dangerous and wrong.? And yes, we still have to say that. Out loud. Even when it's obvious. The way leaders choose to frame issues matters. When leaders use language that disconnects them from the lived realities of their employees, it undervalues their experiences. The commissioner was not only speaking to the views of CNBC's Power Lunch. She was also speaking to the players -- her employees -- and she completely missed the opportunity to demonstrate she had their backs.
• Ignoring social media comments isn’t always an option. Many professional athletes, particularly women who rely heavily on sponsorship money to makes ends meet, are required to be on social media. Posting for the brand is part of the deal. That’s the business side of it.?The human side? An athlete shouldn’t have to learn to “block out” threatening comments. The problem isn’t their reaction to it. The problem is the behavior itself.?There isn't much the WNBA can do to combat keyboard warriors directly, but again, the words we choose to use matter. Calling out the keyboarding contingent for harassment of the players is unlikely to stop the action, but it communicates support and is something we expect from our leaders.

The response from players and from the Women’s National Basketball Players Association has been pointed and unified. That’s not a surprise. This is a league filled with strong women with strong opinions who aren’t afraid to use their collective voice to call out injustices. The?recent comments from Engelbert on CNBC once again galvanized 144 women who are great at staying on message.?

While Engelbert issued an apology on social media the next day, it came across as too late and too weak. As a league, the WNBA hasn’t made any strong public comments condemning the racism and misogyny that is circling, and potentially threatening the joy of the game. That lack of strong public support is part of the context against which these players feel disappointed and disrespected. (Along with a larger historical context of race, sexuality, and marketability that deserves its own conversation.)?

Multiple things can be true. The rivalry, real or perceived, between Clark and Reese has brought more fans to the WNBA and energized fan bases. It also has brought a destructive element to the game with racist and sexist language along with physical threats against players all of which goes well beyond heat of the moment trash talk.?

Engelbert had an opportunity to say so much with her answer – about the worth of Black women in the league who have too often been overlooked and marginalized, about how the Clark-Reese rivalry?is different than Bird-Johnson in fundamentally meaningful ways, or even simply using her platform to denounce vitriolic fans while giving public support to the players.

She missed the opportunity to say that racism and sexism are not welcomed in the WNBA – from players to coaches to administrators to fans.?

Leaders still need to say that. Out loud. Every time they have the opportunity.