As commissioner Cathy Engelbert took the microphone to congratulate the Las Vegas Aces and crown them the WNBA champions, fans in Phoenix drowned out her message with relentless booing. She was booed again throughout her announcement even as she presented A’ja Wilson with the finals MVP trophy. Aces players seemed to ignore Engelbert as she stood beside them during the postgame ceremony before she exited the court as celebrations continued and Wilson was being interviewed by ESPN. More boos foll
She was booed again throughout her announcement even as she presented A’ja Wilson with the finals MVP trophy. Aces players seemed to ignore Engelbert as she stood beside them during the postgame ceremony before she exited the court as celebrations continued and Wilson was being interviewed by ESPN. More boos followed her.
Engelbert has been embroiled in criticism throughout the playoffs after Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier called her and the WNBA out as having the “worst leadership in the world.” Several WNBA players, including Wilson, publicly supported Collier’s comments. The league is also staring down an Oct. 31 deadline to reach an agreement in the collective bargaining negotiations with players, who have described the talks as contentious.
The boo birds were out in full force for WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert 👀 pic.twitter.com/jyijaTUh9g
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 11, 2025
One of Collier’s criticisms of Engelbert was addressing poor officiating. Collier was injured on a play that her coach, Cheryl Reeve, thought should have been a foul. Reeve was ejected from the game and then suspended and fined for charging after officials on the court and for her criticism after the game. In Game 4 of the WNBA Finals – a 97-86 victory at Mortgage Matchup Center by the Aces over the Phoenix Mercury for a clean sweep — officiating was in the spotlight again as Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts received a double technical foul, which he later called “weak,” and was ejected from the game.
Englebert spoke to reporters before the finals began and said she intended to remain commissioner and vowed to repair relationships with players. “If the players in the W don’t feel appreciated and valued by the league, then we have to do better and I have to do better,” Engelbert said. “If they don’t feel that (appreciation), then I will do everything I can to change that.”
She also denied comments Collier alleged Engelbert said to her in a private conversation, including saying Caitlin Clark should be thankful to the WNBA platform for her lucrative marketing deals. Following Engelbert’s remarks, Collier canceled a meeting the two had tentatively planned for this week.
Engelbert was hired by NBA commissioner Adam Silver six years ago and was given the first commissioner title in the WNBA. She has overseen massive growth in the league, including an 11-year, $2.2 billion media-rights agreement that is set to go into effect next season and adding six new franchises to the league.
Booing commissioners isn’t unusual for sports fans. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman are routinely booed on draft day and sometimes during championship ceremonies. Even Silver hears boos at the NBA Draft.
But many players have grown increasingly vocal about their frustrations with her leadership. And now, the fans in Phoenix have let their voices heard, too.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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