WNBA star Napheesa Collier isn’t holding her tongue when it comes to how she really feels about the league’s current leadership. In a scathing public statement made at a press conference on Tuesday, September 30, the Minnesota Lynx player slammed WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, calling her out for what she believes has been negligent leadership.
Collier discussed the many issues she has with the league’s leadership, even saying that the WNBA has the “worst leadership in the world.”
“The real threat to our league isn’t money,” she said. “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 the constant concerns about officiating, and it’s not reached the levels of inconsistency that plague our sport and undermine the integrity in which it operates. Whether the league cares about the players is one thing, but to also not care about the product we put on the floor is truly self-sabotage,” she continued.
Collier also discussed her belief that some of the younger star players, particularly the Fever’s Caitlin Clark, aren’t getting the compensation they deserve for the intense interest they have brought to the league.
“[Engelbert’s] response was, ‘Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court, because without the platform that WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything,’” Collier said.
The Lynx star went on to point out Engelbert’s unwillingness to address the many concerns that have been made by WNBA players and their coaches regarding problems involving officiating.
“Only the losers complain about the refs,” Engelbert previously said.
“We go to battle every day to protect a shield that doesn’t value us,” Collier emphasized. “The league believes it succeeds despite its players, not because of them.”
