Union's criticism of commissioner latest example of WNBA unable to get out of its own way

Revolutions are impossible to predict — the necessary ingredients must happen at just the right time to spark change. The world is rarely ready for a revolution, but it's best if the people who are a part of it hop on board. In the WNBA's case, it seems the league can't get out of its own way as the sport rises to uncharted territory, thanks to Caitlin Clark.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert appeared on CNBC's "Power Launch" Monday with anchor Tyler Mathisen. When asked by Mathisen about the "darker...more menacing" tone fans have adopted on social media regarding the Clark-Angel Reese rivalry, including conversations on race and/or sexuality, Engelbert's response focused on the rivalry but failed to address the larger matters at hand.

"There's no more apathy. Everybody cares," she said, according to an ESPN report . "It is a little of that [Larry] Bird-Magic [Johnson] moment if you recall from 1979 when those two rookies came in from a big college rivalry, one white, one Black. And so we have that moment with these two.

"But the 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."

Engelbert continued by saying she tells players, "If someone's typing something and you wouldn't ask their advice, ignore it."

Women's National Basketball Players Association executive director Terri Jackson rebuked Engelbert's comments in a statement Tuesday night.

"Here is the answer that the Commissioner should have provided to the very clear question regarding the racism, misogyny and harassment experienced by the Players," the statement said. "There is absolutely no place in sport — or in life — for the vile hate, racist language, homophobic comments and the misogynistic attacks our players are facing on social media.

"This is not about rivalries or iconic personalities fueling a business model. This kind of toxic fandom should never be tolerated or left unchecked. It demands immediate action, and frankly, should have been addressed long ago."

Fame can be crushing. The media and fans dissect every move and comment. For many in the WNBA, this was not a reality a year ago, but it is now, and it appears many were unprepared to meet the moment. The season began with some ugly displays of physical play from veterans directed towards Clark. Reese was issued a controversial double technical in June that brought WNBA officiating under scrutiny. Recently, WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes and her former broadcast partner Nancy Lieberman have engaged in a public feud centered on Swoopes's comments about Clark. Engelbert's comments have produced the latest negative press for the league.

Not all controversies above are exclusive to the WNBA, but together, they paint a picture of a league that isn't prepared for the larger media presence honing in on every move and comment. While this season has had many positives for the WNBA and women's basketball, the league continues to make negative headlines because various people couldn't meet the moment.

Veterans could have handled Clark's arrival better. Swoopes could have apologized for inaccuracies in her comments about Clark. Lieberman didn't need to blast Swoopes on the Stephen A. Smith Show. Engelbert could have answered Mathisen's question better.

Growing pains are expected — that's part of a revolution. But moving forward, it would behoove the WNBA and its stakeholders to rise to another level to meet this moment — one that can change the league and sport for decades to come.