WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert ripped for ducking Dan Patrick interview

The hits just keep on coming for WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

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Engelbert has been the center of controversy over the past few years as analysts and fans of Indiana Fever guard and WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark feel like Engelbert simply hasn’t done enough to protect or to promote the league’s most popular player.

But Engelbert is catching even more heat than normal recently after ducking an interview on the Dan Patrick Show last week.

The WNBA commish was initially slated to be interviewed by Patrick last week while she attended the American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe.

However, Engelbert later decided to avoid the interview and Patrick was none-too-pleased with that, especially after the expected interview had been promoted.

MORE: Sophie Cunningham rips WNBA for not protecting Caitlin Clark

“If you want to be treated as a serious league, this is what happens!” Patrick said. “These are tough questions, but this is a fair outlet for you — a fair platform. I will treat you with respect.”

Why did Cathy Engelbert duck the interview?

Apr 13, 2026; New York, NY, USA; WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (right) poses for photos with Nell Angloma who was selected twelfth overall by the Connecticut Sun during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Patrick also revealed that Engelbert ended up not doing the interview because the public relations people for the league didn’t want her to. Bear in mind, they work for Engelbert.

“We waited and we waited and we waited (for Engelbert),” Patrick said. “And then we got word… that the commissioner said that the WNBA staff, the PR staff, said that she is not allowed to do this. They would prefer that she did not do this.”

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Patrick went on to note that he would have asked Engelbert questions on a bunch of topics, and Clark was among those topics, as she should be considering she’s the league’s biggest star and the biggest criticisms of Engelbert are Clark-related.

Patrick would have been tough, but fair, but clearly the league’s PR people had zero interest in seeing its commissioner challenged because it likely wouldn’t have ended well for her based on past interactions with reporters when she’s asked a tough question.

Dave Portnoy rips Cathy Engelbert

Dec 14, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dave Portnoy poses with solders before the between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at Commanders Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

One of Clark’s biggest supporters and one of Engelbert’s biggest critics, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, lit Engelbert up for backing out of the interview.

“”You’re the commissioner of the WNBA… what do you mean your PR people won’t let you go on?” Portnoy asked. “It’s your decision. You’re their boss… she’s a total coward.”

Hard to argue with anything Portnoy is saying here.

Engelbert is the one who is supposed to call the shots, not the PR department. She has a responsibility to answer questions about her league and its biggest star and backing out because of the PR department just looks ridiculous.

It has been clear since Clark entered the league that Engelbert is the wrong person for this job. Her ducking Patrick’s interview is yet another example of that.

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