The “darker … more menacing” side of the WNBA is rearing its ugly head. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s comments on the Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark rivalry have taken a life of their own. And while social media is abuzz with both harsh criticism as well as mild support for Engelbert, one analyst is sharing his take on the situation. Unfortunately for the Indiana Fever rookie, Clark is catching strays.

Dan Dakich in his latest YouTube segment of ‘Don’t @ Me’ for ‘OutKick‘ discusses the fallout of the WNBA Commissioner’s comments on social media. While addressing “the hate WNBA Players’ Association” is getting, Dakich pointed out some ugly truths in the league’s recent history. The former player posits that a lot of the adversity that the players have faced “came from your own player, came from your own coach, your own Olympic coach with the ‘it’s not about one player’ so just stop putting it on others. This was started and exacerbated by the Players’ Association…You started it, you’re the ones who did, you’re the ones that condoned it, you’re the ones that perpetuated it.”

But Dakich seems to be taking issue with the statement on the whole. The WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson’s long statement on how Engelbert should have replied included the lines, “This is not about rivalries or iconic personalities fueling a business model…It demands immediate action, and frankly, should have been addressed long ago.”

While he doesn’t name names, the former ESPN analyst refers to a comment from Cheryl Reeve, the Minnesota Lynx and USAWBNT coach. Back in April, Reeve thrashed the WNBA for broadcasting Caitlin Clark’s preseason debut game while not for her team on the League Pass.

The player here is Chennedy Carter, who did not like it when ESPN rated Clark above her in a list once. And that’s not even the most infamous piece of history the two players have.

Carter, in the first Fever vs. Sky clash, hip-checked Clark, sending the rookie star falling to the floor. Originally considered a common foul, it was later upgraded to a flagrant one by the league. The seventh-overall pick Angel Reese followed it by giving a standing ovation to her veteran guard from the bench. Additionally, the Baltimore native too picked up a foul for hitting the ‘Iowa sensation’ on the head while going for a block.

At the beginning of the video, Dakich also iterates how the Fever rookie is the one coming under fire, alluding to the growing narrative in the league that WNBA players don’t all like her. “Let’s go back to Caitlin Clark, she’s the one facing all of it,” the analyst says. Engelbert had originally faced criticism from players and fans alike for not speaking enough, from their perspective, about the issues that are plaguing the W.

While Dakich clearly states that he’s not condoning it either, he can’t deny the fact that the issues still exist. “I mean you can say there’s no place [for discrimination] but it’s here. If you play professional sports, if you are on television, streaming, radio, doesn’t matter, you’re gonna get criticized. And it doesn’t matter if somebody says there’s no place for it.”

After the incident seemed to take a life of its own on social media, Cathy Engelbert came forward to make a clearer statement about her views on X. But of course, it was still not well-received.

WNBA Commissioner’s statement after Caitlin Clark controversy gets almost ignored by fans

Some would say that there was nothing wrong with Engelbert’s statement, who seemed to be giving a neutral reply based on modern context. Then, she referenced the Larry Bird-Magic Johnson rivalry and claimed rivalries are necessary in sports. “That’s what makes people watch. They want to watch games of consequence between rivals. They don’t want everybody being nice to one another.”

Many would not bat an eye at what the Commissioner said, but what the W community can’t digest is the lack of clarity in her answer. But in an attempt to clarify her comments, Engelbert said on X that “there is absolutely no place for hate” either in the W or anywhere else. However, it seemed to be too good too late.

Looking at it, she has failed to pacify the fanbase. Maybe the WNBA authorities will speak up more on the issue but the narrative remains murky nonetheless. While the players in question, that is Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, themselves do not wish to air these fumes, seems like they are only getting caught in more smoky situations than they would like.