Napheesa Collier Explains Public Criticism of WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier says her recent decision to publicly condemn WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s leadership came from a breaking point after years of frustration and failed dialogue.

“I just got to the point where I was fed up,” Collier said Monday during a live discussion with 49th Vice President Kamala Harris at A Day of Unreasonable Conversation, an annual summit held at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. “No matter the consequences, I felt like it was something that needed to be done.”

The appearance marked Collier’s first public comments since releasing a scathing postgame statement following the Lynx’s playoff elimination by the Phoenix Mercury in the semifinals on Sept. 28.

In that message, she accused the WNBA of fostering “the worst leadership in the world” and described a culture of “tone-deaf and dismissive” decision-making at the top.

Collier: “Nothing Was Changing”

Collier said her decision to speak out wasn’t premeditated but came from a sense of moral exhaustion after repeatedly trying to work through official channels as part of the players’ union.

“I never had planned to do that,” she said. “I am on the union for CBA negotiations, and for so long, I felt like I saw what was going on behind closed doors. For so long, we tried to have these conversations and move the needle. … And I saw nothing was changing.”

“Rarely have we seen a takedown of a league commissioner as calmly or efficiently delivered. The fact that it came from Napheesa Collier, one of the league’s best players and most respected voices, only amplified its impact.”

—@notthefakeSVP weighed in on Napheesa Collier’s… pic.twitter.com/g1hp8B44oO

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 2, 2025

Collier, a three-time All-Star and the co-founder of the players’ offseason league Unrivaled with Breanna Stewart, said the tipping point came when concerns raised by both players and coaches went unaddressed.

“Coaches winning and losing alike were complaining about the same things over and over again, players over and over again, and we weren’t seeing a change that our leadership was trying to make,” Collier said. “Whether I was going to get annihilated for this or people were going to support me, I felt what I was doing was right. I felt like it needed to be said, so no matter the consequences, I felt like it was something that needed to be done.”

Collier Frames ‘Real Threat’ to WNBA

Collier’s initial statement, which went viral on social media, called for accountability within the WNBA’s executive offices and questioned Engelbert’s stewardship during a pivotal moment for the league’s growth.

“The real threat to our league isn’t money, it isn’t ratings or even missed calls or even physical play,” Collier said at the time. “It’s the lack of accountability from the league office. We go to battle every day to protect a shield that doesn’t value us.”

The Lynx star delivered the remarks while wearing a boot on her right foot after tearing multiple ligaments in her ankle and a muscle in her shin during Game 3 of the semifinal series. The injury occurred on a controversial play in the final seconds of a close game against Phoenix — a moment that only deepened her frustration about league officiating and player safety.

Disputed Conversation Over Caitlin Clark

In her postseason statement, Collier described a conversation she said took place with Engelbert during the Unrivaled season in February, raising questions about how the league compensates its most marketable players.

“I also asked how she planned 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 four years,” Collier said. “Her response was, ‘Caitlin should be grateful to make $16 million off the court, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.’”

Collier continued, “In that same conversation she told me players should be ‘on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them.’ That’s the mentality driving our league from the top … The league believes it succeeds despite its players, not because of them.”

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

Engelbert later denied making those remarks, saying she was “disheartened” by Collier’s characterization of their conversation. During her annual WNBA Finals press conference, Engelbert described the claims as “inaccurate” and said she hoped to meet privately with Collier to clarify.

However, according to multiple reports, Collier canceled that meeting after Engelbert’s public comments.

Kamala Harris Praises Napheesa Collier’s Courage

Sharing the stage with Collier, Harris praised the 28-year-old forward for speaking candidly despite potential professional backlash.

“There will always be risk associated with speaking truth,” Harris said. “Because truth, when spoken with the intent of bringing daylight, sunshine, to an issue — not for the sake of being provocative, but because it just must be told — can often be difficult to speak and even more difficult to hear.”

Harris continued: “We cannot let anyone or any circumstance take our power from us. This is a room full of extraordinary, creative people who are opinion leaders. You have a pen, you have a voice, you have a platform.”

At one point, Harris reflected on her own experiences facing public scrutiny, emphasizing resilience in moments of uncertainty. “Sometimes the fight takes a while,” she said.

A Growing Rift in the WNBA

Collier’s comments have intensified a widening rift between players and the league office as the WNBA approaches a new round of collective bargaining negotiations.

Many players have publicly supported Collier since her statement, framing her remarks as representative of broader frustrations over player pay, marketing support, and perceived double standards in how the league communicates with its stars.

The timing adds further tension as the league navigates record viewership, increased media coverage, and the rise of young marketable stars such as Clark and Reese.

While the WNBA’s overall profile has grown, many players — including veterans like Collier — argue that the league’s infrastructure and leadership have not evolved fast enough to meet the moment.

Collier’s Unrivaled project, which gives players an offseason alternative to playing overseas, was partly born out of that frustration. The league has drawn attention and corporate partnerships, positioning Collier and Stewart as advocates for structural reform in women’s basketball.

Collier: “Whether I Get Support or Not, It Needed to Be Said”

As Collier continues her recovery from injury, she has reiterated that her criticism of Engelbert was not personal, but about accountability and growth.

“This wasn’t something I did for attention or to be dramatic,” she said Monday. “It was about finally saying out loud what a lot of us have felt for a long time. Whether people support me or not, it needed to be said.”

For Harris, Collier’s moment was emblematic of a larger truth about leadership and courage.

“There are so many lies and so much misinformation,” Harris said. “The battle to tell truth is more profound than it’s ever been. But what Napheesa is doing — that’s exactly what leadership looks like.”

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