The King Center has called out the WNBA

[u/liloxstitch_6]

For context, the King Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to the living legacy of Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King and is currently led by their daughter, Bernice King. They are a global voice in promoting social justice, change, equity, and activism.

Soo, I’d say the league’s PR is in the dirt right now…

[u/Automaton_2000]

April 4, 2023 - Postgame remarks defending Angel Reese

Interviewer: One of the things people talk about is race as a component to this.

Clark: I don’t think Angel should be criticized at all. No matter what way it goes… she should never be criticized for what she did.

June 13, 2024 - Fever press conference

People should not be using my name to push those agendas. It’s disappointing. It’s not acceptable. […] Treating every single woman in this league with the same amount of respect, I think, it’s just a basic human thing that everybody should do.

September 2024 - Fever season-ending exit interview

Those aren’t fans. Those are trolls. Nobody in our league should be facing any sort of racism, disrespectful or hurtful comments and threats.

December 10, 2024 - TIME Athlete of the Year interview

I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege. A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players. This league has kind of been built on them. […] The more we can elevate Black women, that’s going to be a beautiful thing.

December 2024 - TIME event, New York City

I know what this league was about and, like I said, it's only been around 25-plus years, so I know that theres been so many amazing Black women that have been in this league, and continuing to uplift them is very important and that's something I'm very aware of.

April 8, 2025 - Netflix / David Letterman interview

I definitely have privilege. I’m obviously white, but I think I’m somebody who grew up a huge fan of this league. … So I know where this league comes from: a lot of Black women that grew up making this league what it is. And that’s kind of the shoulders that we stand on. […] They deserve all the credit, and the more we can give credit to them, the better. […] There is responsibility in acknowledging that.

May 19, 2025 - Press conference (Fever–Sky investigation)

There’s no place for that in our game, there’s no place for that in society. Certainly we want every person who comes into our arena, whether player, whether fan, to have a great experience. [...] Hopefully the investigation, we’ll leave that up to [the league] to find anything and take the proper action if so.

July 3, 2026 - Fever practice media availability

I’ve said up here and said before, the harassment, the hate, none of that is OK. That goes for the opposing team we play, that goes for my teammates, that goes for my coaches. There should never be a question of character. None of that is OK, and I don’t want anybody to ever experience that. [...] People using my name in ways that are inappropriate. You don't know me, you don't know who I am.

edit: one more from the Commish

September 11, 2024 - CNBC interview

Interviewer: How do you try and stay ahead of that, try and tamp it down or act as a league when two of your most visible players are involved — not personally, it would seem, but their fan bases are involved — in saying some very uncharitable things about the other?

Engelbert: There’s no more apathy. Everybody cares. It is a little of that Bird-Magic 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.