Napheesa Collier Says WNBA Has 'Worst Leadership in the World,' Calls Out Engelbert
Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier didn't mince words when she offered her opinions on WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
Collier told reporters Tuesday during her exit interview that the WNBA has "the best fans in the world, the best players in the world, but the worst leadership in the world."
The five-time All-Star then divulged details of conversations she's had with Engelbert about the state of WNBA officiating and the league's salary structure. During one chat, the commissioner purportedly said Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark "should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn't make anything."
Engelbert also allegedly said that WNBA players "should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal I got them."
"I have the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA," Engelbert said in a statement. "Together we have all worked tirelessly to transform this league. My focus remains on ensuring a bright future for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating on how we continue to elevate the game. I am disheartened by how Napheesa characterized our conversations and league leadership, but even when our perspectives differ, my commitment to the players and to this work will not waver."
The comments about Clark misrepresent the WNBA's role in propelling her and others before her to a national stage.
The Indiana Fever guard was a household name well ahead of her arrival in the pros, and the advent of the NIL era meant the endorsement money was already flowing. Not to mention, Clark had an existing rivalry with Chicago Sky star Angel Reese to generate plenty of attention.
The WNBA benefited from all of that rather than the other way around.
Going back much further, the league wasn't even able to parlay a college star's popularity into tangible gains in viewership and attendance. Countless college legends built massive followings at their schools, only for their exploits to go largely unnoticed in the WNBA.
Even now, viewership for the women's tournament still outpaces the WNBA playoffs.
When it comes to the media rights deal, Engelbert's remarks obscure the fact the league was partnered with the NBA. The W wasn't really afforded the opportunity to sink or swim on its own, so it's tough to grade how well or how badly the commissioner did.
Collier's broadside toward Engelbert comes against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement.
Thanks to the aforementioned media rights contracts, this could be the most pivotal CBA in WNBA history. Significant increases in league revenue theoretically mean higher salaries and more benefits than players enjoyed in the past.
