Just two days after the Phoenix Mercury eliminated the Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals, forward Napheesa Collier called out the WNBA’s leadership and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert during the team’s exit interviews on Tuesday.
Collier read a two-page statement to the media for nearly four minutes in Minneapolis after entering the room. She spoke about a conversation she had with Engelbert back in February during the Unrivaled season.
Napheesa Collier on WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert😲
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 30, 2025
“Whether the league cares about the health of the players is one thing but to also not care about the product we put on the floor is self sabotage. Year after year, the only thing that remains consistent is a lack of… pic.twitter.com/HYyQom7oQ2
Collier Criticizes WNBA: ‘We Have the Worst Leadership in the World.’
During the Lynx’s Game 3 loss to the Mercury in the semifinals on Friday, Collier injured her left ankle after forward Alyssa Thomas stole the ball and scored a layup. She was seen with tears in her eyes on the sidelines after exiting the game.
As a result, Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve was ejected from Game 3 and criticized the officiating crew in the postgame. According to The Athletic, she received a $15,000 fine from the league for her comments.
On Sunday, Collier (left ankle injury) and Reeve (suspension) missed Game 4 of the semifinals for the Lynx, allowing the Mercury to advance to the WNBA Finals.
In Tuesday’s exit interviews, Collier told the media that she had torn a couple of ligaments in her left ankle—the same one she had previously injured during the regular season.
“The league has made it clear it isn’t about innovation, it isn’t about collaboration, it’s about control and power,” Collier said Tuesday. “I run this platform, and I paid the price to get here, and now I have a responsibility to speak on behalf of the fans and everyone in this league that deserves better our leadership’s answer to being held accountable is to suppress everyone’s voices by handing out fines. I’m not concerned about a fine, I’m concerned about the future of our sport.
“At some point, everyone deserves to hear the truth from someone who, I hope, has earned the benefit of the doubt to fight for what is right and fair for our athletes and our fans. We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world, but right now, we have the worst leadership in the world.”
After Collier concluded her statement, Reeve expressed her support, stating, “Phee’s voice is an important one. I’m proud of Phee. … Who Phee has become as a player and person in this league is important.”
Napheesa Collier Full and unedited statement
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) September 30, 2025
I’ll have specific quotes after media is done pic.twitter.com/k3BlmTVmPh
Collier Speaks Out on WNBA Player Health
Throughout the regular season, notable stars such as Collier, Caitlin Clark, Breanna Stewart, and Angel Reese missed games due to injuries.
It was also the first time WNBA teams played 44 games, up from 32 in 2021, 36 in 2022, and 40 in 2023 and 2024.
“Whether the league cares about the health of the players is one thing, but to also not care about the product we put on the floor is self sabotage,” Collier said. “Year after year, the only thing that remains consistent is a lack of accountability from our leaders.”
During her speech, Collier stated that Engelbert told her that “only losers complain about the refs.” She also mentioned that Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark should be “grateful” for the WNBA because the league is responsible for her sponsorship deals.
Napheesa Collier claims that Cathy Englebrecht said that Caitlin Clark should be “grateful” to the WNBA and without them, she wouldn’t make anything.
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) September 30, 2025
Oh Lordy… 😳
pic.twitter.com/MNRh7aKoUc
Engelbert Sparks Debate Over Caitlin Clark Comments
Over the years, WNBA players spent the off-season playing basketball overseas to earn extra money. Recently, in the 2020s, many have chosen to stay stateside and play for organizations like Athletes Unlimited and Unrivaled. Several do so to supplement their income in the off-season.
One notable occurred when UMMC Ekaterinburg of Russia paid Diana Taurasi, the league’s all-time leading scorer and Phoenix Mercury legend, $1 million to sit out the 2015 WNBA season.
“I asked Cathy Engelbert how she plans to address the officiating issues in our league. Her response was, ‘Only the losers complain about the refs.'” “I also asked how she plans to fix the fact that players like Caitlin [Clark], Angel [Reese], and Paige [Bueckers], who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league, are making so little for their first 4 years. Her response was, ‘Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court. Because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.”
“In that same conversation, she told me, ‘Players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal I got them.”
According to the Fever, Caitlin Clark, who is out for the season due to injury, did not have any comment on Collier’s statement.
WNBA Players and Coaches Respond To Napheesa Collier’s Remarks Before Game 5
Before Game 5 of the semifinals between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas Aces, Fever guard Lexie Hull is among the players showing support for Collier.
In the offseason, she participated in the inaugural season of Unrivaled and was a member of the championship team Rose BC, which included Reese, Chelsea Gray, and Kahleah Copper.
“I think I agree with everything she said,” Hull said of Collier’s statement. “We’re at a really important time in the league and changes need to be made, and so you’re seeing her talk about that and really proud of her for making that statement today.”
Lexie Hull responds to Napheesa’s comments on the leadership:
— Ashwin (@Sudharsan_ak) September 30, 2025
“I agree with everything she said. We are in a really important time in the league and changes need to be made. Really proud of her for making that statement today”
She handled those questions very well👀👏 pic.twitter.com/xahZEjB2Lt
“I have a lot of respect for Phee,” added head coach Stephanie White. “… I’m thankful that we have strong women that are willing to say the things that matter and say the things that will move the needle for change.”
As the current CBA contract is set to expire in 31 days, negotiations are still ongoing between the WNBPA and the league, as pointed out by Aces guard Chelsea Gray.
“The ongoing CBA negotiations is not great, not where we thought and wanted to be at this point in time,” Gray said. “We have a lot of work to do, more so on the W side and with Cathy [Engelbert], and understanding our value as a league, as players, and there’s no league without the players.”
Statement from WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the WNBPA
Following Collier’s comments on the physicality of play and officiating problems, the WNBPA released statements saying that when she discusses the league’s issues and needs, people listen.
“Napheesa Collier is an outstanding leader and Officer of this Union,” the WNBPA added. “When Phee speaks, people listen. We are confident that her words today speak to the feelings and experiences of many, if not most or all of our members. The leaders of the league and its teams would benefit from listening to her powerful statement. The players know their value even if the league does not. They are fighting for their legacy and the future of basketball.”
Engelbert also released a statement expressing her support for Collier while addressing frustrations over Collier’s comments.
“I have the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA,” Engelbert said in a statement. “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.”
The WNBPA and WNBA face a tight deadline to finalize a new CBA before it expires on October 31. Given the league’s growth in recent years, both sides remain optimistic about reaching an agreement, though a lockout remains a possibility.
