The WNBA is losing its way.

Leadership has failed to protect its players, its values, and its fanbase. This petition demands a full leadership overhaul and the enforcement of real, measurable consequences under the league’s “No Place for Hate” initiative. We stand with the players, not performative narratives. Join us in demanding action now.

What We’re Demanding:

1. Leadership Accountability and Change

We respectfully call for the immediate resignations of Cathy Engelbert (Commissioner), Ted Leonsis (Board of Advisors), and Phil Cook (Chief Marketing Officer), whose leadership has damaged the integrity of the league and contributed to a climate of division and toxicity.

Future leadership should reflect the values and lived experience of the players and fanbase. We recommend WNBA veterans, former players, and trusted community figures be considered for these roles to ensure values-aligned stewardship moving forward.

2. Real Enforcement of “No Place for Hate”

The league’s anti-hate messaging is meaningless without action. We demand the following:

Bans for public figures, such as Dave Portnoy, who have used their platforms to incite abuse and harassment of players and fans.
Establishment of an independent accountability board to investigate hate speech and ensure timely consequences for violations.
Clear standards and public transparency around how hate is defined, investigated, and addressed within the WNBA.

Why It Matters:

We all want the league to grow. But that growth should be sustainable, organic, and rooted in integrity, not built at the players’ expense. It should never come by placing inexcusable pressure on young athletes who deserve to simply enjoy the game they love, especially alongside the women they grew up idolizing.

Instead, we’re watching a league that thrives on division - elevating conflict, enabling harassment, and letting toxic narratives go unchecked. The media machine has become corrosive, driven by clicks, controversy, and manufactured rivalries.

Players who resist the script are labeled difficult. Fans who speak up are mocked or pushed aside. And those in charge hide behind polished statements while the damage continues.

This approach has led to online abuse, biased coverage, and a fan culture increasingly hostile to the values the WNBA once stood for.

We, the undersigned, are loyal fans, former athletes, and everyday people who demand better, for the sake of the players, the league, and the next generation watching.