The WNBA All-Star game took place in Chicago over the weekend and was, by all accounts, a success, with players praising the event. However, the weekend’s festivities did noticeably lack planned fan activities.
The general public was unable to attend most of the All-Star events outside of Sunday’s game. Events that were closed to the public included the skills and three-point competitions on Saturday, as well as a live concert by Chance the Rapper.
As it turns out, the lack of fan activities was no accident. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert blamed the decision on concerns about gun violence in the city and across the United States.
“We would have loved to have opened that up to the public,” Engelbert said on Sunday. “Because of security concerns dating way back to Mandalay Bay, dating back to other things that have happened here in Chicago, Uvalde, and Buffalo, there’s a lot of concern about outdoor events right now unfortunately in our country. So we were just trying to do the best we could.”
When fans got wind of Engelbert’s comments, they weren’t exactly buying it, with some going as far as to suggest the league would be better off without Engelbert leading it.
Rap. Chicago. Violence. She definitely hit the stereotype triple double. https://t.co/plcfPralna
— Justin Tinsley (@JustinTinsley) July 10, 2022
Gun violence in Chicago at a CHANCE show?
— Matt Brown (@MattBrownEP) July 10, 2022
This is racist fear mongering and you should get the hell out of my city if you feel this way then. Would not be saying this shit if the event was in Connecticut. https://t.co/mqeERTIGiR
— Sandra 💙💯⚽️ (@SandHerrera_) July 10, 2022
Chicago throws hundreds of concerts, festivals and events in the summer with no violence. This decision seems ill informed. https://t.co/ZXOGRpN6Dj
— Brandon Pope TV (@BpopeTV) July 10, 2022
The WNBA is apparently being run by a Twitter egg. https://t.co/w5inCQAhfC
— Kevin Kaduk (@KevinKaduk) July 10, 2022
Yikes 🤦🏾♀️ https://t.co/yfF1nSvySi
— Erica McCall (@birdstheword_24) July 10, 2022
Says a lot that the WNBA has been able to rise in popularity despite having Cathy as the commish. Speaks to how good the product is, but they're also leaving stuff on the table because Cathy is really bad at this. https://t.co/xp57WaJR0I
— Cyrus Smith (@CoolCyWrites) July 10, 2022
For what it’s worth, the Taste of Chicago festival was taking place outside less than two miles from McCormick Place, where the Chance the Rapper concert and the rest of the WNBA’s limited outdoor events were held. There were no issues with gun violence.