Napheesa Collier means enterprise.
In her end-of-season media availability Tuesday, the Lynx star took goal at WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert because the league and the WNBAPA nonetheless stay at odds for a brand new collective bargaining settlement.
And Collier didn’t miss.
Collier, the vice chairman of the gamers affiliation, made it clear that the WNBA have the “best” gamers and followers “in the world, but right now we have the worst leadership in the world.”
She even revealed personal discussions with the commissioner, together with a chat surrounding low-paying salaries for the league’s brightest younger stars, which Engelbert responded by saying Caitlin Clark needs to be “grateful” for the cash she makes off the court docket as a result of she “wouldn’t make anything” with out the WNBA platform.
Collier’s scathing critiques — and now revealed discussions — got here with the vice chairman at a boiling level following a number of conferences of CBA negotiations and quite a few considerations not receiving ample consideration.
Collier identified the league points, together with inconsistent nightly officiating and the pay disparity WNBA gamers face regardless of the publicity and income those self same gamers produce for the league.
“The real threat to our league isn’t money, it isn’t ratings, or even missed calls or even physical play. It’s the lack of accountability from the league office. Since I’ve been in the league, you’ve heard about the constant concerns about officiating and it has now reached levels of inconsistency that plague our sport and undermine the integrity in which it operates,” stated Collier, who the Lynx drafted sixth general in 2019.
“Whether the league cares about the health of the players is one thing, but to also not care about the product on the floor is truly self sabotage. Year after year, the only thing that remains consistent is the lack of accountability from our leaders.”
Standing with Phee 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Two days prior, Collier and Lynx performed their remaining sport of the season after the Phoenix Mercury eradicated them in Recreation 4 of a best-of-five semifinals collection. Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve obtained a $15,000 positive for her feedback and conduct in Recreation 3 after the coach expressed displeasure — utilizing colourful language — with the league’s officiating.
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon and Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White have been additionally fined $1,000 for his or her public feedback defending Reeve.
The feedback — and fines — have been only a few cases of a recurring theme that’s been spotlighted in recent times. Collier stated Tuesday she isn’t involved about being fined, however is worried about the way forward for the WNBA.
“The league has a buzzword that they’ve rolled out as talking points for the CBA as to why they can’t pay the players what we’re worth. That word is sustainability. But what’s truly unsustainable is keeping a good product on the floor while allowing officials to lose control of games,” stated Collier. “Followers see it each night time. Coaches, each profitable and shedding, level it out each night time in pregame and postgame media. But management simply points fines and appears the opposite approach. They ignore the problems that everybody inside the sport is begging to be mounted.
“That is negligence.”
The sturdy phrases continued from Collier, who learn off a prewritten assertion for over 4 minutes earlier than fielding questions from reporters.
Per Collier, the star and commissioner spoke final winter at Unmatched — a high-paying 3-on-3 girls’s basketball league co-founded by the Lynx ahead and Liberty star Breanna Stewart — in regards to the officiating concern.
“Her response was ‘well only the losers complain about the refs,’” Collier stated.
Shortly after Collier’s feedback unfold throughout social media, the commissioner launched a press release that stated she was “disheartened” the way in which the star “characterized our conversations…”
The assertion, nevertheless, didn’t refute any of Collier’s statements.
“I have the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA. Together we have all worked tirelessly to transform this league,” stated Engelbert. “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.”
Low WNBA salaries have been a speaking level because the league’s inception, and it’s one cause why Collier labored to start Unmatched, which is about to start its second annual season in January. In its inaugural season, common wage reportedly paid $220,000, with no participant making lower than $100,000.
The common WNBA wage is beneath $150,000, with minimal pay at $66,000. Throughout a podcast look, Collier stated Unmatched salaries will enhance in 2026.
Collier requested Engelbert how she deliberate to repair the problem of stars like Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers — who all helped drive WNBA income and publicity — making “so little” of their rookie offers.
Collier stated: “Her response was Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court…”
Collier added that Engelbert stated “players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them.”
The damning revelations continued whereas the 29-year-old questioned the management of the league.
Collier recalled not getting a name or textual content from Engelbert whereas she missed 11 out of 44 WNBA common season video games — and the elimination semifinals Recreation 4 — however the commissioner’s “No. 2” telling her agent that “she doesn’t believe physical play is contributing to injuries.”
The star contrasted that have to the method of Alex Bazzell — Collier’s husband and Unmatched President — who she stated reached out to injured gamers whether or not the harm was sustained in WNBA or Unmatched motion.
“That is infuriating. And it’s the perfect example of the tone deaf, dismissive approach the [WNBA] leaders always seem to take,” Collier stated.
The deadline for the WNBA and gamers affiliation to achieve an settlement is Oct 31. With no deal, the league may have its first-ever lockout. It might stunt the expansion of a league experiencing essentially the most publicity its ever had.
“I’ve finally grown tired. For too long, I have tried to have these conversations in private, but it’s clear there’s no intention of accepting there’s a problem,” Collier stated. “The league has made it clear it isn’t about innovation, it isn’t about collaboration, it’s about control and power.”
