Napheesa Collier, the star forward for the Minnesota Lynx, has made headlines by canceling her scheduled meeting with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. In a statement to Axios on Monday evening, Collier expressed her frustration over what she perceives as a lack of accountability in Engelbert's recent remarks to the media.
Collier's decision to opt out of the meeting stems from Engelbert's denial of a private conversation that took place the previous week. During this conversation, Collier claims Engelbert suggested that players like Caitlin Clark should be grateful for the platform provided by the league. Engelbert has publicly refuted these claims, stating, "Obviously, I did not make those comments." This denial has left Collier feeling disrespected and unsupported.
In her interview with Axios, Collier elaborated on her feelings of disappointment. She remarked, "For her to start her speech saying she has the utmost respect for me and for the players, and then to turn around and call me a liar three minutes later... denying words that I heard come straight out of her mouth, I think it just speaks to that lack of accountability." Her decision to step back from the conversation highlights her commitment to demanding transparency and respect within the league.
As of Monday evening, representatives from the WNBA had not responded to Axios' request for comment. Meanwhile, Collier was in Los Angeles moderating a discussion at the Unreasonable Conversation conference, where former Vice President Kamala Harris praised her as a "living example of courage" for her outspoken criticism of WNBA leadership.
Collier anticipates that player concerns will gain more traction in the upcoming weeks, especially with the expiration of the current WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement on October 31. "I think we have a lot of momentum right now. We're just pushing as hard as we can to make sure that we are getting the best deal that we can," Collier stated, highlighting the urgency for players to secure favorable terms.
On the other hand, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who appointed Engelbert as WNBA Commissioner, expressed his confidence that the relationship between Engelbert and the players can be mended. His remarks suggest that there may still be an opportunity for dialogue and reconciliation within the league.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on how the WNBA leadership addresses the concerns raised by players like Collier, and whether meaningful changes will be implemented in the league's governance.
