For those who missed it, Engelbert allegedly backed out of an interview with “The Dan Patrick Show” Friday afternoon. Both Engelbert and Patrick are at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Nevada, and — according to Patrick — the WNBA’s public relations team instructed Engelbert to cancel.

“We waited almost two hours for her. This was scheduled,” Patrick said during a four-minute segment in which he absolutely ripped Engelbert (politely, of course). “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.

HOST CLAIMS WNBA COMMISSIONER CATHY ENGELBERT CANCELED INTERVIEW AS CAITLIN CLARK CONTROVERSY MOUNTS

“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.”

Just unfathomable levels of stupid coming out of the WNBA right now. They’ve destroyed Caitlin Clark, and, somehow, continue to make things worse.

As for Engelbert backing out … the commish was seen hitting practice shots out of the bunker a mere 50 yards away after ditching the interview, and “The Dan Patrick Show” made sure to let the people at home see exactly how the beach day was going:

Amazing. It’s like an episode of “The Office,” or “Seinfeld,” or “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Take your pick, it all works.

It’s the PERFECT clip for the WNBA right now: Cathy Engelbert shanking a ball out of the sand into the clubhouse while Dan Patrick rips her for skipping an interview a few yards up the fairway.

CONGRESSMAN EXPLAINS WHY HE SIGNED LETTER TO WNBA DEMANDING ANSWERS ON CAITLIN CLARK’S TREATMENT

What an awful golf shot to have the entire world see. Lordy, it’s my biggest nightmare. I HATE bunker shots. I’m scared to death of them.

I’m not the best golfer in the world, but I do OK on the course. Nothing special, but I can flirt with breaking 80 if things go right.

But put me in a bunker, and it’s game over. I’m liable to never get out. They are the absolute worst.

So, in that regard, I feel bad for Cathy here. It’s a brutal look and a laughably bad golf shot. A relatable one, but a bad one.

If the cameras ever panned to me on the driving range, I’d want a gap wedge in my hand. That’s my safety club. I know it won’t embarrass me. Maybe my 58, too. Two clubs I trust.

As for her bailing on the interview …

Cathy Engelbert is the commissioner of the WNBA. You’re the boss. You make the rules. Tell your PR team to kick rocks and go on with Dan Patrick and sell your league. Save your league. DEFEND your league.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Don’t run away because a bunch of PR nerds told you it’s a bad idea.

Hogwash.

You’re a grown-up. Act like it.

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.”

WNBA EXPANDS REGULAR SEASON TO 50 GAMES STARTING IN 2027, THE LONGEST SCHEDULE IN LEAGUE HISTORY

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.

“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 to sit down. And yes, would the questions be tough? Yes, yes. And I’m sure that had something to do with it…. So, it’s just disappointing.

“If you want to be treated as a serious league, this is what happens! These are tough questions, but this is a fair outlet for you — a fair platform. I will treat you with respect.”

Patrick even claimed that Engelbert was golfing 50 yards away from him, while he was doing Friday’s show, as his show’s feed cut to footage of the commissioner driving a ball.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Patrick previously claimed on his show that after Clark was punched in the throat by Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas, his producers reached out to the WNBA for a statement on June 25 and never received a response.

Patrick publicly criticized the league for this lack of communication on June 26, 2026, stating that the silence allowed the situation to “spiral out of control.”

Engelbert has come under immense scrutiny in recent weeks after the infamous throat punch to Clark, as referees did not call the hit a foul in real time.

While Thomas was dealt a one-game suspension after the play was reviewed and upgraded to a flagrant 1, the league never publicly addressed the hit on Clark, or growing history of questionable hard contact on the star since she came into the league in 2024.

Instead, the WNBA put out a statement in defense of Thomas after she allegedly received backlash online.

“The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league’s top priority. We are aware of Alyssa Thomas’ comments, and what she and her teammates have experienced is completely unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community. The league and our security team have been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organization and remain committed to protecting all players,” the statement read.

Clark then finished 11th in the peer-voted portion of the 2026 WNBA All-Star balloting, despite ranking in the top five league-wide in both points and assists. This sparked major controversy, with WNBA legend Candace Parker publicly criticizing players for disrespecting Clark.

“When I sat down, as much as I did not like Diana Taurasi, there ain’t no way I’m not going to write her as an All-Star,” Parker said. “As much as I did not like anyone on the Lynx because they used to whoop our a—, I’m not going to not put Maya Moore or Sylvia Fowles. I think people need to look at themselves in the mirror and realize, like, man, you’ve got some insecurities if you’re sitting down and putting Caitlin Clark as the eleventh best guard.”

The controversy reached a peak this past week when it reached Capitol Hill.

Eleven Republican lawmakers recently sent a letter to Commissioner Engelbert. They demanded accountability for the physical hostility directed at Clark. They even suggested federal agencies like the Department of Justice investigate the league for creating a hostile work environment.

The Indiana Fever quickly distanced themselves from the political intervention. The team released a statement confirming they had no prior knowledge of the letter. Fever head coach Stephanie White then completely refused to engage with the topic when asked about it by Fox News Digital at a pre-game press conference on Thursday.

“That’s not something we can control,” White said.

“We’re not affiliated with those groups. We try to keep the main thing the main thing and focus on the things we can control.”

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.”

WNBA EXPANDS REGULAR SEASON TO 50 GAMES STARTING IN 2027, THE LONGEST SCHEDULE IN LEAGUE HISTORY

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.

“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 to sit down. And yes, would the questions be tough? Yes, yes. And I’m sure that had something to do with it…. So, it’s just disappointing.

“If you want to be treated as a serious league, this is what happens! These are tough questions, but this is a fair outlet for you — a fair platform. I will treat you with respect.”

Patrick even claimed that Engelbert was golfing 50 yards away from him, while he was doing Friday’s show, as his show’s feed cut to footage of the commissioner driving a ball.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Patrick previously claimed on his show that after Clark was punched in the throat by Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas, his producers reached out to the WNBA for a statement on June 25 and never received a response.

Patrick publicly criticized the league for this lack of communication on June 26, 2026, stating that the silence allowed the situation to “spiral out of control.”

Engelbert has come under immense scrutiny in recent weeks after the infamous throat punch to Clark, as referees did not call the hit a foul in real time.

While Thomas was dealt a one-game suspension after the play was reviewed and upgraded to a flagrant 1, the league never publicly addressed the hit on Clark, or growing history of questionable hard contact on the star since she came into the league in 2024.

Instead, the WNBA put out a statement in defense of Thomas after she allegedly received backlash online.

“The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league’s top priority. We are aware of Alyssa Thomas’ comments, and what she and her teammates have experienced is completely unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community. The league and our security team have been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organization and remain committed to protecting all players,” the statement read.

Clark then finished 11th in the peer-voted portion of the 2026 WNBA All-Star balloting, despite ranking in the top five league-wide in both points and assists. This sparked major controversy, with WNBA legend Candace Parker publicly criticizing players for disrespecting Clark.

“When I sat down, as much as I did not like Diana Taurasi, there ain’t no way I’m not going to write her as an All-Star,” Parker said. “As much as I did not like anyone on the Lynx because they used to whoop our a—, I’m not going to not put Maya Moore or Sylvia Fowles. I think people need to look at themselves in the mirror and realize, like, man, you’ve got some insecurities if you’re sitting down and putting Caitlin Clark as the eleventh best guard.”

The controversy reached a peak this past week when it reached Capitol Hill.

Eleven Republican lawmakers recently sent a letter to Commissioner Engelbert. They demanded accountability for the physical hostility directed at Clark. They even suggested federal agencies like the Department of Justice investigate the league for creating a hostile work environment.

The Indiana Fever quickly distanced themselves from the political intervention. The team released a statement confirming they had no prior knowledge of the letter. Fever head coach Stephanie White then completely refused to engage with the topic when asked about it by Fox News Digital at a pre-game press conference on Thursday.

“That’s not something we can control,” White said.

“We’re not affiliated with those groups. We try to keep the main thing the main thing and focus on the things we can control.”