Cathy Engelbert’s inflection point? Plus: Chicago recs for All-Star weekend
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😬 Key week for the commish.
🌠 All-Star format
🍝 Chicago recs
Tension at the Top: An important week for the commissioner
There is no bigger story heading into All-Star weekend than commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s job security.
Before a new collective bargaining agreement was ever reached, Engelbert already appeared to be in the hot seat when players — most notably Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier — began calling out the commissioner’s poor leadership. Of course, both sides were in the heat of negotiations, so let’s chalk that up to business tactics. But since the new CBA was ratified, Engelbert has found herself in the middle of even more controversy.
What should be a season marked by memorable celebrations of the league’s 30th year has been marred by poor officiating, harassment issues and Engelbert’s seeming inability to be proactive in addressing any of it.
This all came to a head last week after a report from the Sports Business Journal detailed NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s alleged involvement in the WNBA’s decision to suspend Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas following the now-infamous flagrant foul on Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.
Asked point-blank if he played a role regarding disciplinary action for Thomas, Silver sidestepped the question — all but confirming his involvement.
Engelbert, the first commissioner of the WNBA, has always reported to Silver and was appointed by him, not the WNBA’s board of governors. It’s not unheard of that she would consult Silver. But according to SBJ’s report, Engelbert was not planning to suspend Thomas, and Silver urged her to issue the one-game ban. The leaking of this information and Silver’s refusal to deny it further undermined Engelbert’s standing in the W.
During a news conference at NBA Summer League, Silver complimented the “strong job” Engelbert has done building the league, but added, “we’ll have ongoing discussions about (her future).”
That doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
In Related News
Brondello suspended for Reese comment
The WNBA suspended Toronto coach Sandy Brondello one game for referring to Angel Reese as a “protected species” while protesting a call in the fourth quarter of the Tempo’s game against the Atlanta Dream on Friday. Audio of Brondello’s comments surfaced almost immediately, and Brondello apologized the following morning on X.
Brondello is one of the more respected and longest-tenured coaches in the league. But Reese has also been subject to inordinate amounts of mistreatment, and this was an opportunity for the league to support her and levy a punishment for an inappropriate remark. It is the first time a coach has been suspended since Becky Hammon was barred for two games for violating policies related to then-Las Vegas Ace Dearica Hamby’s pregnancy.
Engelbert to meet with WNBPA
Amid all the online vitriol and harassment directed at WNBA players lately, union leaders and league leadership are scheduled to meet today to discuss, among other things, security and “negative effects from sports betting,” according to players attending the meeting.
Chicago Sky center Elizabeth Williams told The Athletic the meeting was initiated by player leadership and will involve the union’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee, which includes Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner.
The two-time WNBA champion was subject to death threats after the Mercury’s consecutive games against the Fever in June. At the time, Bonner told The Athletic she had not heard from Engelbert “in years.”
Engelbert discussed the issue of online attacks at an event last Thursday, calling it “unacceptable.” More on that here.
Fast Breaks
⭐ Here are the full All-Star teams, as selected by honorary GMs Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon.
🔥 Caitlin Clark, who will be playing for Team Spoon in Saturday’s game, had her best performance of the season Friday against Seattle, posting the WNBA’s first 40-plus-point, 10-plus-assist game while setting a Fever franchise scoring record.
👀 Fellow Indiana guard Kelsey Mitchell has been on an absolute heater and kept it going with 33 points the day after Clark’s explosion, leading the Fever over the Liberty.
✈️ It was a rough week for New York, which had its Thursday game against Dallas postponed due to travel difficulties. We wouldn’t wish spending more than 10 hours on a tarmac on our worst enemies.
📊 No change in the top five of our latest WNBA power rankings, but No. 1 Golden State should get some sort of extra credit for its nine-game win streak that just ended last night.
🐺 Last week’s poll results: 53 percent of voters said they’d take UConn’s alumni group in a 3-on-3 tournament over South Carolina’s or Notre Dame’s.
All-Star Weekend: A format refresher
Phew, on to the fun stuff. Here’s what to watch for this weekend in Chicago:
Friday night, the WNBA will have its annual 3-Point Contest and a new Shooting Stars competition.
My (Sabreena’s) ideal lineup for the 3-point shootout would be Sabrina Ionescu, Azzi Fudd, Bridget Carleton, Caitlin Clark, Kayla McBride and Marina Mabrey, even if the first three aren’t All-Stars this season. Ionescu is the best contest shooter in league history — I never tire of watching her 37-point final round in 2023 — and Fudd has perhaps the most perfect shot I’ve ever seen. No matter who participates, the 3-Point Contest reliably delivers.
As for the Shooting Stars, it’s a new event, and we still don’t have a format! The NBA’s Shooting Stars challenge, which returned last season, usually features one current player, one legend and one WNBA player shooting from six different spots on the court, culminating in a half-court shot. Presumably, the WNBA event will also be a team competition that highlights shooting ability (but not just 3s, which would be redundant).
It would be fun to have one current WNBA player, one WNBA legend and one NBA player on each team. If legends are involved, my vote is for Swin Cash — she was the WNBA GOAT of the NBA Shooting Stars, the lone four-time champion.
Moving on to Saturday night: Let’s be real, the WNBA All-Star Game suffers from the same competitiveness issues that plague many other sports, other than in Olympic years when Team USA plays a group of other All-Stars. Even though the FIBA World Cup is under two months away, the WNBA hasn’t adopted the USA format for the 2026 All-Star competition, so it’s fair to wonder how high the energy level will be for this year’s main event.
My main hope is for everyone to be healthy enough to participate. Paige Bueckers missed a game Monday and Reese suffered an ankle injury Sunday, plus Kelsey Plum is still injured in Los Angeles. The more available All-Stars, the better.
More All-Star Weekend: Annie’s guide to Chicago
After 11 years in Chicago, I moved to New York last March. Since leaving the Windy City, there are places I crave so deeply that it keeps me up at night! From my favorite diner to the best gym in the city, consider this your guide to enjoying Chicago during All-Star weekend like a local.
I’m going to break this down by my favorite restaurant for every meal before venturing into extracurriculars.
So let’s get into breakfast! There is one spot that tops all others in this category, and that is … 🥁🥁🥁 … Honeybear Cafe in Rogers Park. The menu is bonkers, the portion sizes are exorbitant and the vibes are unpretentious and warm. It’s the perfect hangover spot, but make a reservation because it fills up fast. Honorable mention to Batter and Berries in Lincoln Park, Janik Cafe in Wicker Park and The Spoke & Bird in the South Loop.
Lunch is impossible to narrow down to just one place, but you know what, I love to be controversial: Let me just go for it and say the best lunch spot in Chicago is Spinning J’s in Humboldt Park. This isn’t controversial because Spinning J’s is anything less than great. It’s because it is technically a bakery and soda fountain, but its sandwiches are divine. The tuna melt is my personal favorite. Pair it with a piece of matcha cake, and I swear, that’s as close as you’ll get to the perfect lunch.Honorable mention to Au Cheval in West Loop because, yes, the cheeseburger is as good as you’ve heard, and Sanders BBQ Supply Co. in Beverly.
Again, for dinner, I don’t really know how to pick just one place. I’ll give you the restaurant I wanted to go to for my last meal in Chicago — but they had no room — and that’s La Scarola. I’m Italian, so I favor a large helping of noodles and red sauce over a more trendy spot, but La Scarola checks every box. It’s an old-school place that takes you just as you are. A family feel with satisfying portions, this is a can’t-miss if you’re carb-loading.Honorable mention to Bavette’s in River North, because steak is basically a religion in Chicago, and Mott Street in Noble Square.
I obviously left a few Chicago staples out, like best pizza, hot dog, Italian beef, deli sandwich, tacos and coffee. These are the ones I never miss when I’m home:
Pizza: Nardi’s in Addison. I’m sorry, but I’ve been eating it since I was a baby. Nothing compares.
Hot dog: Gene & Jude’s in River Grove.
Italian beef: Johnnie’s in Elmwood Park.
Deli sandwich: Lucia’s in Wicker Park.
Tacos: Chavas Tacos El Original in West Town.
Coffee: Dark Matter in Humboldt Park and Gallery Cafe in Wicker Park.
I know this has been a lot, but if you find yourself in need of a workout, there is literally only one gym I’d suggest: Hiraya in Avondale. Still looking for an outfit for Saturday’s game? Check out Knee Deep Vintage in Pilsen or any of the dozens of vintage stores on Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park.
Last but certainly not least, if you’re searching for a good neighborhood bar, The Hi-Lo in Humboldt Park is a personal favorite. I also love EZ Inn and the Sportsman’s Club, both of which are on Western in West Town.
Let us know if you hit any of these spots!
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This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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