Following Cathy Engelbert's appearance on CNBC on Tuesday, the Women's National Basketball Players Association and a number of players from throughout the league voiced their opposition to the commissioner.
Engelbert was questioned over the "darker" and "more menacing" tone that some fans have adopted this season on social media,
particularly in relation to the star rookies Caitlin Clark, a white woman, and Angel Reese, a Black man.
The players' union and a few players claimed that her responses were insufficient.
Speaking on "Power Lunch," Engelbert was questioned on a variety of topics, including
the increasing amount of harassment players are facing on social media and the racial undertones surrounding Clark and Reese.
Throughout the season, players have discussed a lot of problems in this area. Earlier this month,
Reese said that some of Clark's admirers had followed her home, threatened to kill her, tormented her online, posted nude pictures of her using AI, and more.
Fans have made offensive remarks to a number of other players for hard fouls they have committed against Clark this season. After Chennedy Carter shoulder-checked Clark,
someone reportedly called her a "ghetto b**ch" and abused her at her team hotel. Even more
Diamond DeShields shared a post from someone expressing optimism that her spinal tumor would return.
Hays, who has a kidney infection and was placed on the 10-day injured list, has hit.254/.275/.373 with one homer and two stolen bases since joining the Phillies.