Cathy Engelbert's All-Star announcement hits wrong number, blindsiding Washington Mystics rookie in bizarre twist of fate
In one of the most unusual All-Star reveals the WNBA has ever seen, Washington Mystics rookie Sonia Citron learned of her selection not from her team or the league, but from a stranger on social media.
While Commissioner Cathy Engelbert traditionally calls each selected player personally, a misdial this year created a story no one could've scripted. Citron's All-Star moment arrived via direct message from someone she had never even spoken to before.
Cathy Engelbert mistakenly dials the wrong WNBA rookie, turning an All-Star selection moment into a surreal phone call mix-up
During an appearance on Between The Lines with WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, Sonia Citron recalled the moment she realized something strange was going on. "Usually Cathy calls you and she lets you know.
That was not the case for me… I was checking my phone, maybe an hour before a game," she told Leslie.
What she found was a direct message from Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams — a player Citron had never met. "I saw that Gabby Williams had followed and DMed me, and I was like, 'Oh, this is super random, because I've never met her, never talked to her.' I was like, 'She's not just doing this out of nowhere.'"
Inside the message was a screenshot of a voicemail from Commissioner Engelbert.
But the voicemail wasn't intended for Williams. Engelbert had dialed the wrong number, and Williams, realizing the mistake, passed the message along. 'In the DM, she was like, 'Hey, Cathy called me thinking that this number was your number. I hope this isn't how you found out, but congrats,'' Citron said.
While the situation added an awkward twist to what should've been a celebratory moment, it didn't dampen the honor.
Citron was later officially drafted by Caitlin Clark to Team Clark for the All-Star Game, which will be held July 19 in Indianapolis.
As Citron gears up for the game and the 3-point contest, Engelbert's misfire has reignited conversation about communication and leadership in the WNBA. With a new collective bargaining agreement on the horizon, players have expressed the importance of direct, respectful engagement with league officials.
New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu weighed in during a recent shootaround, noting, 'I think it's important to have real conversations. I've talked to Adam Silver about it a lot when I've seen him… We need to be able to be in the room with Cathy and talking to her and her leadership group about what we want.'
Also Read:
LeBron James appeared in Bad Bunny's concert amid Los Angeles Lakers trade rumors
Though Citron's All-Star journey began in a rather unorthodox fashion, the rookie's rise has been commendable.
Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
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