Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier stunned the basketball world after delivering a prepared statement during her exit interview after losing against the Phoenix Mercury in the 2025 WNBA semifinals on Sept. 30. She directly called out WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the league’s leadership over issues ranging from officiating to player compensation.
Collier, who also serves as the vice president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), used her platform to highlight what she described as a pattern of neglect from the league’s highest office. She criticized inconsistent officiating, lack of player injury safety and stagnant rookie pay scales, claiming these problems reflect a broader culture of disregard for athletes.
“Year after year, the only thing that remains consistent is a lack of accountability from our leaders,” Collier said. “We have the best players in the world, the best fans in the world but right now we have the worst leadership in the world.”
Her comments come as the WNBPA prepares for an upcoming collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiation with the league. The deadline to place a new agreement is Oct. 31.
At the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game on Jul. 19, players protested during warmups for better pay by wearing black “Pay Us What You Owe Us” shirts. This protest arose from the anticipated CBA negotiations, where the players’ association seeks larger revenue compensation, while the league emphasizes financial stability.
Collier pointed to conversations she’s had with Engelbert, saying she received dismissive responses about referee complaints and frustrations that young stars such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers generate massive revenue while earning low salaries during their first years in the league.
According to an ESPN report, Ryan Brewer, an economist at Indiana University Columbus, estimated that Clark was responsible for roughly $36 million in economic impact to the city of Indianapolis and nearly 27 percent of the WNBA’s overall economic activity during the 2024 season.
Despite that influence, Clark’s salary for the 2025 season is expected to be just over $78,000, under the league’s current collective bargaining structure, where salaries range from about $66,000 to $249,000 for players on supermaximum contracts.
According to Collier, Engelbert told her that Clark should feel “grateful” for the WNBA platform and even suggested athletes should be “on their knees” thanking the league for the existing media rights deals she’s been able to secure.
Those remarks, Collier argued, highlight a disconnect between league leadership and its players.
The timing of Collier’s statement also follows controversy in the Lynx playoff run, where officiating decisions drew sharp criticism from both players and coaches. In the final minute of Game 3 between the Lynx and Mercury, no foul was called after Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas made contact with Collier, resulting in a season-ending ankle injury.
Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve was ejected after confronting officials and later fined $15,000 after blasting the league for what she called “malpractice” in assigning the referee crew for the semifinals. Reeve’s suspension, combined with Collier’s absence, left the top-seeded Lynx without their leader in an 86–81 loss that ended their postseason run.
The WNBPA quickly supported Collier’s exit interview, issuing a statement on Instagram that said the league would benefit from listening to her words.
“The players know their value even if the league does not,” the union wrote on Sept. 30.
Several WNBA stars also voiced their support.
“I was honestly disgusted by the comments that Cathy made,” said A’ja Wilson, center for the Las Vegas Aces and four-time league MVP.
“I’m very appreciative that we have people like Phee representing us, because that’s what it’s going to take for us to continue pushing and standing on what we believe in,” Wilson told reporters Tuesday after the Aces advanced to the WNBA Finals.
During a press conference before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Oct. 3, Engelbert denied making the alleged comments that athletes should be “on their knees” thanking the league for existing media rights deals or that Caitlin Clark should feel “grateful” for the WNBA platform.
“Obviously, I did not make those comments. Caitlin has been a transformational player in this league,” Engelbert said. “I’m not going to get into every counterpoint but there are a lot of inaccuracies reported out there and I certainly did not say that.”
According to ESPN sports reporters Kendra Andrews and Ramona Shelburne, sources told them on Saturday that Collier has canceled her meeting with Engelbert this week following the press conference, stating that Engelbert’s press conference “pushed the relationship beyond repair.”
Collier’s remarks have ignited a wide-ranging conversation across the basketball community, raising questions about the league’s direction as the CBA deadline approaches. With players, coaches and fans expressing their viewpoints, it showcases a challenge to the WNBA to reconcile its leadership with the athletes who define the league’s future.
Copy edited by Daryl R. Thomas Jr.
