WNBA superstar Napheesa Collier launches blistering attack on commissioner

WNBA superstar Napheesa Collier launched a blistering attack on league commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Tuesday, saying ‘we have the worst leadership in the world’ during an end-of-season press conference.

Speaking from a prepared statement for over four minutes, Collier sharply criticized Engelbert for being ‘negligent’ and also called out the league’s officiating.

‘We have the best league in the world. We have the best fans in the world. But we have the worst leadership in the world,’ the five-time All-Star said.

‘Year after year, the only thing that remains consistent is the lack of accountability from our leaders.’

Collier also referenced an eye-raising alleged comment from Engelbert about Caitlin Clark after Collier – who is vice president of the WNBA’s Players Association (WNBPA) – pressed her about Clark’s startlingly low salary during a previous conversation.

‘Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16million off the court, because without the platform that WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything,’ Collier alleged Engelbert as saying.

Collier accused Engelbert (above) of being ‘negligent’ as she criticized league leadership

Collier also alleged that Engelbert said: ‘Players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them.’

The league is set to begin a reported $2.2billion total ($200million per year) media rights deal next season, though the league and Players Association have yet to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement for next year and beyond.

Despite her enormous impact on the league and women’s basketball, Clark made just $78,066 this year from her WNBA salary.

The maximum salary, still, is just short of $250,000, which led Collier and Breanna Stewart to co-found the Unrivaled league, which promised players a minimum six-figure salary during a nine- week winter season upon its launch this year.

In a statement, Engelbert responded to Collier’s remarks: ‘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. 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.’

Collier’s comments came after she was injured in the closing moments of her Minnesota Lynx’s postseason loss to the Phoenix Mercury after a controversial no-call.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark made a base salary of just over $78,000 this year in the WNBA

Collier is one of the league’s best players and was the runner-up for MVP this season

She said on Tuesday that Engelbert said: ‘only the losers complain about the refs.’

‘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,’ Collier said.

‘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. Fans see it every night. Coaches, both winning and losing, point it out every night in pre-game and post-game media. Yet leadership just issues fines and looks the other way. They ignore the issues that everyone inside the game is begging to be fixed. That is negligence.’

Collier, who was injured during a steal from the Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas, said that Engelbert had not reached out to her after she hurt her ankle.

‘Not one call, not one text. Instead, the only outreach has come from her No. 2 telling my agent that she doesn’t believe physical play is contributing to injuries,’ she said. ‘That is infuriating, and it’s the perfect example of the tone deaf, dismissive approach that our leaders always seem to take.’

Collier added that she expected to be fined for her comments.

The 29-year-old was once again one of the W’s best players this season as she averaged 22.9 points and finished second in MVP voting.