WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert responded to Napheesa Collier’s pointed criticism of her and the league, pushing back on the player’s
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert responded to Napheesa Collier’s pointed criticism of her and the league, pushing back on the player’s claims. During the Minnesota Lynx media briefing, Collier criticized the league’s leadership amid the unresolved CBA discussions.
Collier called out Engelbert for “lack of accountability” as commissioner while revealing her alleged comments about the salaries of players, notably Caitlin Clark. Engelbert responded with a statement shortly after, which described Collier’s remarks as “disheartening.”
Engelbert Addresses Collier’s Comments
Engelbert’s statement addressed how Collier characterized their conversations and her criticism of the WNBA front office. The statement read:
“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.
“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.”
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s Statement pic.twitter.com/NkxBHSRXMf
— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) September 30, 2025
In her interview, Collier criticized how the league is run by Engelbert, describing her management as the “worst leadership in the world”. The Minnesota Lynx star also drew attention to the players’ concerns about the officiating in the league and how Engelbert allegedly dismissed those concerns during their conversation.
Collier Compares Husband’s Leadership to Engelbert’s
During her criticism of Engelbert and her leadership of the WNBA, Collier referenced her husband Alex Bazzell’s management of the inaugural season of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 League that she co-founded alongside Breanna Stewart.
“I have the privilege of watching my husband run a league where he has to balance 100 different things at once. I won’t pretend the job is easy, but even with all of that on his plate, he always reaches out to players when he sees an injury, whether it’s Unrivaled or even during the WNBA season,” Collier said.
“That is what leadership looks like. It’s the human element, it’s basic integrity, and it’s the bare minimum any leader should embody. But do you know who I haven’t heard from? Cathy. Not one call, not one text.”
Napheesa Collier read a statement regarding what she called the WNBA's "lack of accountability from the league office" on issues surrounding officiating. pic.twitter.com/DNBgXXkBe4
— ESPN (@espn) September 30, 2025
It’s not the first time WNBA stars have publicly expressed their displeasure about Engelbert’s leadership. Tensions over compensation and league management have been building, culminating in players making a statement during pre-game warmups at the WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis this year by wearing jerseys that read “Pay Us What You Owe Us.”
Now, with contentious issues surrounding the league, Engelbert faces pressure to address these mounting concerns before they further damage player-league relations.
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