It’s uncommon in skilled sports activities to see a star publicly excoriate league management. Final week, the Minnesota Lynx ahead Napheesa Collier delivered a savage takedown of commissioner Cathy Engelbert, saying the game had “the worst management on the planet” and accusing Engelbert of jeopardizing participant security by failing to deal with considerations with poor officiating.
“The actual risk to our league isn’t cash,” Collier mentioned. “It isn’t rankings and even missed calls and even bodily play. It’s the dearth of accountability from the league workplace.”
Collier’s blunt evaluation—in an announcement she learn earlier than reporters—comes at an inflection level for the league. Scores proceed to climb, constructing off the explosion in recognition that started final season with the arrival of the rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Franchise valuations have skyrocketed, and the league is including 5 extra groups by 2030. Final yr, the league introduced a media-rights deal that’s reportedly price billions. However the relationship between the gamers and their commissioner couldn’t be worse.
Greater than ever, the gamers know their price—they usually haven’t been shy about letting the league comprehend it. Earlier than the WNBA All-Star Sport, the gamers wore T-shirts that learn Pay Us What You Owe Us in reference to their ongoing labor negotiations. The present settlement expires on the finish of October, and gamers have been demanding greater salaries and a higher share of league income (they at present earn lower than 7 p.c, in contrast with the roughly 50 p.c that NBA gamers obtain).
In her speech, Collier shared the small print of a non-public dialog she mentioned she had with Engelbert in the course of the offseason. In accordance with Collier, when she requested Engelbert how she deliberate to rectify the truth that younger sensations reminiscent of Clark, Reese, and Paige Bueckers make small salaries regardless of driving league income, Engelbert mentioned that Clark ought to be “grateful” that the WNBA platform has allowed her to make tens of millions off the courtroom, in promoting and endorsements—despite the fact that Clark had a large following as a university star and signed a cope with Nike price a reported $28 million earlier than she ever performed a WNBA sport. In the identical dialog, Collier mentioned Engelbert advised her: “Gamers ought to be on their knees, thanking their fortunate stars for the media-rights deal that I acquired them.”
“That’s the mentality driving our league from the highest,” Collier mentioned on the press convention. “The league believes it succeeds regardless of its gamers, not due to them.”
In a quick assertion, Engelbert mentioned that she was “disheartened” by how Collier characterised their conversations and league management, and that she is dedicated to making sure the WNBA’s “brilliant future.” She later denied saying that Clark ought to be “grateful” for the league, and mentioned she was establishing a activity power to guage officiating the place gamers can be invited to precise their considerations.
Collier’s candid remarks made clear simply how a lot the player-league relationship has soured lately. The gamers, some now family names because of the expansion of the league (and the success of a brand new three-on-three league that Collier herself co-founded), maintain extra energy. So far as they’re involved, the league ought to be grateful to them for remaining dedicated to its success, even because it treats their well-being as an afterthought.
Gamers throughout the league voiced their help for Collier, together with Clark. “I believe what folks want to grasp: We’d like nice management on this time, throughout all ranges,” she mentioned. “That is straight up crucial second on this league’s historical past. This league’s been round 25-plus years, and this can be a second we have now to capitalize on. Phee mentioned all of it with what she mentioned, and I believe the factors she made have been very legitimate.”
Many noticed Engelbert’s weak response as emblematic of how she has dealt with considerations from gamers and followers of the game extra broadly. Final September, Engelbert was requested how the league deliberate to deal with racist feedback and abuse leveled by followers invested within the rivalry between Reese (who’s Black) and Clark (who’s white). “The one factor I find out about sports activities: You want rivalry. That’s what makes folks watch,” Engelbert mentioned. “They don’t need all people being good to at least one one other.” (Engelbert later apologized, saying that her assertion had “missed the mark” and that there isn’t a place for hate within the WNBA.)
League management has lengthy been criticized for ignoring complaints that poor refereeing has led to increasingly aggression on courtroom and gamers being injured in consequence. Collier’s personal season ended along with her in a boot after she collided with a Mercury participant over the past minute of a semifinal sport, tearing ligaments in her ankle. Her coach, Cheryl Reeve, needed to be bodily restrained from confronting the officers on the courtroom when they didn’t name a foul. In a postgame press convention, Reeve blasted the league for poor officiating throughout the board—and was slapped with a one-game suspension and $15,000 positive in return. Collier mentioned that when she introduced up considerations about officiating to Engelbert months in the past, the commissioner had responded: “Solely the losers complain concerning the refs.”
Collier’s assertion was a warning: “For too lengthy, I’ve tried to have these conversations in personal,” she mentioned. “The league has made it clear it isn’t about innovation. It isn’t about collaboration. It’s about management and energy.”
In some ways, Collier was the perfect particular person to ship this message. Not simply because she’s a vp of the WNBA Gamers Affiliation, a five-time All-Star, and one of the revered voices within the league. However as a result of she has proved that it’s potential to pay girls what they’re price and produce an exceptional basketball product. This January, she launched Unequalled, a smaller league that runs within the offseason and is already valued at $340 million. The typical participant wage was $220,000, in contrast with about $120,000 within the WNBA. Having seen what’s potential—a gamers’ league with correct pay, cutting-edge amenities, and on-site baby care—the WNBA’s stars are not prepared to tolerate something much less.
*Sources: Brian Fluharty / Getty; David Sherman / NBAE / Getty; Geoff Stellfox / Getty.