WNBA's stellar season clouded by online hate, threats

The WNBA season has been “nothing short of amazing,” but unfortunately, to anyone paying attention, “there has been a dark underside to the season too,” according to Tara Sullivan of the BOSTON GLOBE. With online “vitriol and real-world threats centered around issues of race, culture, misogyny, and homophobia,” the rise of which presents Commissioner Cathy Engelbert with “ some of her biggest challenges since leaving the corporate world for the WNBA five years ago.” Now the “pressing issue is dealing with the simmering hate” and “part of that starts with Engelbert” (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/11). In Boston, Gary Washburn wrote the WNBA is “emerging as the fifth major sport,” along with the NBA, NHL, MLB and NFL. But for that to occur, the WNBA has to deal with some issues, such as players feeling the league “hasn’t protected them adequately from social media abuse, misogyny, and racism.” Washburn noted there is just one black coach in the WNBA in Storm coach Noelle Quinn (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/12).