Host claims WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert canceled interview as Caitlin Clark controversy mounts

Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White is asked about GOP lawmakers' letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert about Caitlin Clark.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert canceled an interview on "The Dan Patrick Show," the host announced during his show on Friday. Both Engelbert and Patrick are at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Nevada.

Patrick said the conversation was scheduled for Thursday, but he claimed the WNBA's public relations team instructed Engelbert to cancel.

"We waited almost two hours for her. This was scheduled." Patrick said. "She was going to do a meeting in her hotel room, a conference call, and then she was going to join us... We're standing by, we're waiting to interview her."

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Patrick added that he intended to ask questions about Caitlin Clark, and other topics including WNBA expansion.

"Then we got word... that the commissioner said that the WNBA staff, the PR staff, said that she is not allowed to do this. They would prefer that she did not do this," Patrick said.

Patrick criticized Engelbert's handling of the interview.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks before the WNBA basketball draft in New York on April 13, 2026. (Pamela Smith/AP)

"You're the commissioner, and you're listening to the PR department, which is fine. But did you check with PR before you said yes to us? We promoted it all day yesterday," he said.

"It was her opportunity to finally say, 'hey, you can ask me the tough questions.' I thought this was going to be a good thing for the WNBA because people still want answers here. There’s so many people who have an opinion, agendas here, and this was a chance