WNBA Commissioner Cornered Over Marina Mabrey-Caitlin Clark Incident
WNBA Commissioner Cornered Over Marina Mabrey-Caitlin Clark Incident originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Things got messy during the third quarter of the game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday evening.
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Though the Fever won with a final score of 88-71, a physical altercation between Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Connecticut's Jacy Sheldon and Marina Mabrey was one of the main highlights of the game.
During the third quarter, Clark took possession of the ball and dribbled over the three-point line near the free-throw line while Sheldon guarded her closely. Then, Sheldon reached up with her right hand and poked Clark in the eye, causing the Iowa alum to react. Sheldon bumped Clark, and Clark shoved her away. Then, Mabrey pushed Clark to the ground.
Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey fouls Indiana Fever guard Caitlin ClarkTrevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
There have been many mixed reactions to the altercation between Clark and Mabrey. Christine Brennan, a sports analyst who has been writing a book about Clark's basketball career, posted on X right after the incident, saying, "The WNBA continues to fail to meet the moment. Terrible decision to allow Marina Mabrey to stay in the game. People are watching as never before. And this is what they see?"
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Then, Chris Evert, a former tennis player, quote-tweeted Brennan's post, responding with "When will these ladies realize, accept and appreciate @CaitlinClark22 is the best thing that ever happened to women's basketball. This is a bad look for the sport and what's happened to sportsmanship?"
Since Clark joined the WNBA, her debut game on May 14, 2024, against the Sun alone drew 2.1 million viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA game in 23 years. According to ESPN, Indiana's victory against the New York Liberty last Saturday had an average of 2.2 million viewers with a peak of 2.8 million.
That average was reportedly up 76% over last season's average audience for WNBA games on the channel. So far in 2025, viewership is up 15% year-over-year across the Worldwide Leader's platforms. Ticket sales for games where Clark is expected to play have skyrocketed as well.
On Wednesday morning, Brennan quote-tweeted Evert's post and wondered how the commissioner of the WNBA, Cathy Engelbert, would respond to this situation.
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"It's going to be very interesting to see what Cathy Engelbert says today," Brennan wrote. "This is a big moment for the WNBA. We now have data that Clark alone draws more than half the league's TV audience. Can the W continue to allow her to receive cheap shots like Mabrey's? We shall see."
Brennan has been very supportive of Clark since her rookie season. Her book about Clark, "On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women's Sports," will be released on July 8.
Related: Gabbie Marshall Sends Strong Message to Caitlin Clark After Heated Fever-Sun Game
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
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