Naphessa Collier Calls Out WNBA Commissioner About Caitlin Clark Remarks and ‘Negligence’

Collier is a vice president on the WNBPA executive committee, in her seventh WNBA season, and has been praised by many; including Lynx coaches, for her leadership prowess and ability to effectively vocalize her sentiments. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Minnesota’s star player would be at the forefront of conversations involving the league’s future. Most notably on Tuesday, Naphessa Collier called out the WNBA’s Commissioner about her Caitlin Clark remarks and being “negligent” in her governance.

This week Collier stunned the sports world with a statement revealing key details about behind the scenes WNBA discussions. One of the most shocking revelations is that Collier alleged that Engelbert told her that Caitlin Clark “should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.”

Collier certainly has the support of players from around the WNBA. After Naphessa’s press conference, Indiana Fever’s Lexie Hull immediately spoke out explaining how she concurs with Collier’s assessment of the state of the W; and current relationship between players and the commissioner. Hull mentions,

“Our league is at a spot that it hasn’t been in the past 10 years. We’re growing exponentially, and we need change to mirror that. And I think where the players see the league going is different than where leadership sees the league going, and somehow we need to see that along. And I think the CBA negotiations will help hopefully get us there.

When it comes down to it, I think I agree with everything she said,” Lexie Hull, one of the Fever’s WNBA Player Association (WNBPA) team reps, said. “We’re at a really important time in the league, and changes need to be made. And so you’re seeing [Collier] talk about that, and really proud of her for making that statement today.”

Naphessa Collier Calls Out WNBA Commissioner About Caitlin Clark Remarks and ‘Negligence’

Therefore, what was Collier’s exact statement? It was lengthy, yet well said and all thoughts perfectly organized to make every point clear. Naphessa revealed,

“First of all, I’d like to congratulate the Mercury for advancing to the Finals. I want to be clear this conversation is not about winning or losing, it’s about something much bigger. The real threat to our league isn’t money, it isn’t ratings or even missed calls or even physical play. It’s the lack of accountability from the league office. Since I’ve been in the league, you’ve heard the constant concerns about officiating and it has now reached levels of inconsistency that plague our sport and undermine the integrity with which it operates. 

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 truly self-sabotage. Year after year, the only thing that remains consistent is the lack of accountability from our leaders. The league has a buzzword that they rolled out as a talking point for the CBA as to why they can’t pay the players what we’re worth; that word is sustainability. But what’s truly unsustainable is keeping a good product on the floor while allowing officials to lose control of games. Fans see it every night. Coaches, both winning and losing, point it out every night in pre- and post-game media. And leadership just issues fines and looks the other way. They ignore the issues that everyone inside the game is begging them to fix. That is negligence. 

At Unrivaled this past February, I sat across from Cathy and asked how she planned to address the officiating issues in our league. Her response was, ‘Well, only the losers complain about the refs.’ I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like Caitlin, Angel and Paige, who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league, are making so little for their first four years. Her response was, ‘Caitlin should be grateful she makes $60 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 that I got them.’ That’s the mentality driving our league from the top. We go to battle every day to protect a shield that doesn’t value us. The league believes it succeeds despite its players, not because of them. 

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. 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. Instead the only outreach has come from her No. 2 telling my agent that she doesn’t believe physical play is contributing to injuries. 

That is infuriating. And it’s the perfect example of the tone deaf, dismissive approach that our leaders always seem to take. I’ve finally grown tired. For too long, I’ve tried to have these conversations in private, but it’s clear there’s no intention of accepting there’s a problem. The league has made it clear it isn’t about innovation, it isn’t about collaboration, it’s about control and power. I’ve earned 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.

If I didn’t know exactly what the job entailed, maybe I wouldn’t feel this way, but unfortunately for them, I do. We serve a league that has shown they think championship coaches and Hall of Fame players are dispensible, and that’s fine, it’s professional sports. But I will not stand quietly by and allow different standards to be applied at the league level.”

As one can see, Naphessa is bravely and boldly taking aim at the league office as being an entity that is now “tone-deaf,” “dismissive,” willing to sabotage its own product; while being more about “control and power” than innovation or collaboration. The WNBA possesses the potential to experience even more growth in the future. And players want their fair share of the pie.

WNBA Commissioner Cath Engelbert Responds to Naphessa Collier Statement

Unfortunately, neither side has come together to agree on anything. So then, remedying the low salaries and revenue sharing structure; the top issues players are pursuing in CBA negotiations; is at a standstill. With all talks sadly remaining stagnant ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline.

In light of Collier’s allegations, commissioner Cathy Engelbert briefly expressed that she is, “disheartened by how Napheesa characterized [their] conversations and league leadership, but even when our perspectives differ, [her] commitment to the players and to this work will not waver.”

There is much to be resolved between these two parties. And many issues to be addressed to improve the league and the situations of its valuable players. Hopefully, more progress will finally be made soon.

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