In a powerful and unreserved statement during her end-of-season press conference, WNBA star Napheesa Collier publicly confronted the league's leadership, specifically targeting Commissioner Cathy Engelbert with fierce criticism. Collier, who also serves as Vice President of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, delivered a nearly four-and-a-half-minute address, labeling Engelbert's leadership as "the worst in the world" and criticizing the handling of officiating complaints and ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations.
Collier asserted that the true impediment to the league's progress isn't financial constraints or ratings, but a profound lack of accountability at the highest level. She explained that her decision to speak publicly stemmed from the league's perceived unwillingness to acknowledge problems internally. "For too long, I have tried to have these conversations in private," Collier stated, adding, "The league has made it clear it isn’t about innovation, it isn’t about collaboration, it’s about control and power." She dismissed concerns about potential fines, emphasizing her dedication to the future of the sport and the necessity for truth to be spoken by someone committed to athletes' and fans' welfare.
Among her specific grievances, Collier highlighted the persistent issue of inconsistent officiating, a point of contention throughout the season for both coaches and players. She linked this to the league's use of "sustainability" as a justification for not adequately compensating players. "What’s truly unsustainable is keeping a good product on the floor while allowing officials to lose control of games," she argued, pointing out that leadership often ignores the problem, instead issuing fines.
Collier also provided unsettling details from private conversations with Commissioner Engelbert during contentious CBA negotiation meetings. At a February Unrivaled event, when Collier inquired about addressing officiating concerns, Engelbert allegedly replied, "Well, only the losers complain about refs." Furthermore, regarding improved rookie-scale contracts for impactful young stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, Engelbert reportedly commented that 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" — a statement Collier noted came despite Clark signing a significant Nike deal before her WNBA debut. Collier also recalled Engelbert telling players they "should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them."
"That’s the mentality driving our league from the top," Collier declared, lamenting that players "go to battle every day to protect a shield that doesn’t value us." This perceived disconnect is not isolated; Sabrina Ionescu had previously voiced a desire for Engelbert to be as accessible to WNBA players as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is to his. There were also instances of players not having Engelbert’s contact saved and a notable voicemail error. In contrast, Collier lauded her husband, Alex Bazzell, president of the 3-on-3 league Unrivaled, as an example of empathetic leadership due to his consistent personal outreach to players.
The WNBPA promptly issued a statement unequivocally backing Collier, affirming her as "an outstanding leader" whose words "speak to the feelings and experiences of many, if not most or all of our members." Support also poured in from other players, including Elena Delle Donne and Angel Reese, who took to social media to commend Collier's candor. Even Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, recently fined and suspended for her own officiating complaints, voiced support for Collier's crucial voice.
With the current CBA set to expire at the end of next month, Collier's statement underscores the massive chasm dividing players and league officials. She concluded her impassioned address with a resolute message: "We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world, but right now, we have the worst leadership in the world." Undeterred by potential repercussions, Collier vowed not to "stand quietly by and allow different standards to be applied at the league level," emphasizing her unwavering commitment to fighting for what is right for athletes and fans alike.
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Originally published at: https://nypost.com/2025/09/30/sports/napheesa-collier-exposes-private-conversations-with-wnba-commissioner-in-blistering-attack/
