Engelbert Has Avoided Fever Home Games
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has not attended a regular-season Indiana Fever game during Caitlin Clark's tenure.
Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Basketball
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Should league commissioners make it a priority to attend their sport's most popular players' home games?
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has not attended a single regular-season Indiana Fever home game since Caitlin Clark entered the league in 2024. This absence has drawn public criticism, notably from sports broadcaster Linda Cohn.
Why it matters
The commissioner's lack of presence at Gainbridge Fieldhouse stands out given the unprecedented surge in league interest and viewership during Clark's first two seasons. The league saw its highest regular-season attendance in 22 years and most-watched season in 24 years during this period.
Caitlin Clark has played nearly 50 regular-season home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse since joining the WNBA. The league achieved its highest regular-season attendance in 22 years and top viewership figures in 24 years during the 2024 season.
The players
Cathy Engelbert
She currently serves as the WNBA Commissioner and is scheduled to retire at the end of 2026.
Caitlin Clark
She is an Indiana Fever guard who entered the WNBA in 2024 and has significantly impacted league viewership and attendance.
Linda Cohn
She is a veteran sportscaster who hosts The Linda Cohn Show and publicly criticized the commissioner's attendance patterns.
The details
Broadcaster Linda Cohn recently criticized Engelbert regarding her attendance record during The Linda Cohn Show. While the commissioner did attend the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, she has notably been omitted from league-level promotional materials featuring Clark, such as a 30th-anniversary poster and an ION Sports graphic.
Timeline
Caitlin Clark entered the WNBA in 2024.
Commissioner Engelbert attended the All-Star Game in Indianapolis in 2025.
Linda Cohn criticized the commissioner's attendance record in September 2026.
Cathy Engelbert is scheduled to retire at the end of 2026.
Season Trajectory
This controversy surrounding the commissioner's engagement adds to existing frustrations regarding how the league manages its most prominent stars and promotional reach. These tensions contrast with the historic attendance and viewership gains realized during the current multi-year growth cycle.
The commissioner's absence and promotional omissions influence fan perceptions regarding the league's support for Indiana's roster growth. This dynamic remains a focal point for those tracking the WNBA's commercial evolution and the management of its top-tier talent.
The takeaway
The scrutiny surrounding league leadership underscores the growing pressure to align administrative visibility with the star power driving recent record-breaking growth. Balancing high-level league promotion with the individual popularity of players remains a challenge for WNBA officials.
Further reading
For more background on the professional league, visit Basketball.
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Should league commissioners make it a priority to attend their sport's most popular players' home games?
