LAS VEGAS — WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert didn’t shy away from the spotlight Friday, firmly rejecting Napheesa Collier’s criticism of the league even as the Minnesota Lynx star’s words gained support from her fellow players around the league.
Engelbert went on to claim there were some “inaccuracies” in some of the comments about her that Collier made earlier in the week.
“I was disheartened to hear that some players feel the league and that I personally do not care about them or listen to them,” Engelbert said before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Friday night. “If the players in the ‘W’ don’t feel appreciated and value from the league, we have to do better, and I have to do better.”
Engelbert said officiating will be reviewed in the offseason by a new “state of the game” committee.
Collier’s comments on officiating and player treatment sparked a broader backlash towards Engelbert, fueling tensions that have left the commissioner playing defense at a pivotal moment for the league, with the current CBA expiring later this month.
League officials told FWRD AXIS News that record-breaking attendance and rising television ratings are evidence of momentum despite the public scrutiny, but for many players, day-to-day concerns about safety and fair treatment remain at the forefront of their demands, with a new collective bargaining agreement being hammered out in the offseason.
“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,” Engelbert said. “My focus remains on ensuring a bright future for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating on how we continue to elevate the game.”
Collier’s frustration carried particular weight after Mercury star Alyssa Thomas made contact with Collier’s ankle during the Semifinals on a steal that caused her ankle to roll — which led to Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve’s ejection and suspension.
“The officiating crew that we had for tonight, for the leadership to deem those three people semifinals playoff worthy is fucking malpractice,” Reeve said after the game. “I can take an L with the best of them. I don’t think we should have to play through more than what they did… And all of them decided, ‘It wasn’t my call, I don’t know, I didn’t see it that way.’ They’re fucking awful.”
Engelbert denied Collier’s comments that Collier said Engelbert made in private conversations about Caitlin Clark needing the WNBA to succeed financially.
“Caitlin has been a transformational player in this league. She’s she’s been a great representative of the game,” Engelbert said. “She’s brought in tens of millions of new fans to the game.”
