WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert responded to withering criticism from Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and said she’s “disheartened.’’
“I have the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA,’’ Engelbert said in a statement Tuesday, Sept. 30. “Together we have all worked tirelessly to transform this league. My focus remains on ensuring a bright future for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating on how we continue to elevate the game. I am disheartened by how Napheesa characterized our conversations and league leadership, but even when our perspectives differ, my commitment to the players and to this work will not waver.”
Collier, during her end-of-the-season media availability, criticized Engelbert and the ‘tone-deaf and dismissive approach that our leaders always seem to take’ in governing the league.
‘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,’ Collier said in a prepared statement on Tuesday. ‘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.’
Engelbert facing ongoing criticism over handling of WNBA issues
Engelbert, 60, is in her sixth year as the WNBA’s commissioner – and no stranger to criticism from players.
The ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations have strained the tenuous relationship between Engelbert and the players, who are demanding significantly more of the league’s revenue. At the 2025 All-Star Game, during warmups, the players wore T-shirts that read, “Pay Us What You Owe Us.’
In blasting Engelbert, Collier struck a discouraged tone regarding the CBA negotiations and player salaries, saying, ‘We go to battle every day to protect a shield that doesn’t value us.’
But much of the players’ criticism has been targeted for Engelbert. In September 2024, for example, the WNBA players union and several players criticized Engelbert for not taking a stronger stand against racism and hate speech many have experienced this season.
The vitriol grew especially intense on social media as issues flared up over the dynamic between Caitlin Clark, who is white, and Angel Reese, who is Black. At the time, Engelbert responded by citing the need for rivalries and faced backlash.
‘This is not about rivalries or iconic personalities fueling a business model,’ said Terri Jackson, executive director of the players union. “This kind of toxic fandom should never be tolerated or left unchecked. It demands immediate action, and frankly, should have been addressed long ago.’
Engelbert, according to a letter obtained by ESPN, apologized to WNBA players, writing “I was asked a question about WNBA rivalries and the dark side of social media and race, and simply put, my answer missed the mark and I’m sorry,’ Engelbert wrote to the players. ‘I regret that I didn’t express, in a clear and definitive way, condemnation of the hateful speech that is all too often directed at WNBA players on social media.’
During the 2025 season, Engelbert and the league also faced criticism for concerns about officiating and a rise in fines, many issued after players and coaches publicly criticized the league’s officials.
Cheryl Reeve, head coach of the Minnesota Lynx coach, was fined $15,000 – the highest fine in league history – after she stormed onto the court and confronted an official during Game 3 of her team’s semifinal loss to the Phoenix Mercury.
Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon and Indiana Fever Stephanie White each were fined $1,000 after public comments defending Reeve, according to The Athletic.
