WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert before yesterday’s draft announced that the league has “assembled a dedicated task force to help combat online hate and vitriol directed toward players and teams,” according to Doug Feinberg of the AP. Engelbert said that the task force will have a “four-pronged approach, including monitoring social media and other digital platforms by using advance technology to detect threats and comments.” The league will also “strengthen conduct standards across WNBA platforms.” There will be “added security measures at league and team levels, as well as dedicated mental health clinicians.” Engelbert said that the league has “worked with team representatives as well as external groups to help the task force” (AP, 4/14).
AROUND THE LEAGUE: ESPN.com’s Alexa Philippou noted multiple WNBAers spoke out last season about an “uptick in racist, misogynistic, anti-gay and otherwise vitriolic rhetoric directed to them over social media,” and there were also “incidents that occurred outside of those online platforms.” Liberty F Breanna Stewart’s wife “received a threatening anti-gay email during the WNBA Finals last year,” and earlier in the season “a man with a camera harassed” then-Sky G Chennedy Carter while the team got off its bus on a road trip (ESPN.com, 4/14).
UNFORTUNATE PATTERN: REUTERS’ Amy Tennery wrote “stalking, threats and harassment have been an unwanted byproduct of the growing popularity and media exposure for women’s sport.” British tennis player Emma Raducanu spotted a “stalker” during a match at the Dubai Championships this year. Indianapolis police arrested a Texas man earlier this year on “stalking charges after he allegedly sent threats and sexually violent messages” to Fever G Caitlin Clark. Another man reportedly “pleaded guilty to a stalking charge late last year after police arrested him for harassing” then-UConn G Paige Bueckers (REUTERS, 4/14).
