Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier used her season exit interview with reporters on Tuesday to handle the mounting points gamers and coaches have confronted below Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s management, highlighting the league’s dealing with of officiating, participant pay and accountability.
What did Napheesa Collier say about WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert?
“We’ve got one of the best gamers on the earth. We’ve got one of the best followers on the earth. However proper now now we have the worst management on the earth,” Collier stated in a four-minute assertion, turning her feedback towards Engelbert.
The five-time WNBA All-Star additionally mentioned the frustration each gamers and coaches have skilled with officiating calls and bodily performs. After asking Engelbert how she plans to right the issues, Collier stated the commissioner replied, “Properly, solely the losers complain in regards to the refs.”
The strains got here to a head through the Lynx’s playoff collection towards the Phoenix Mercury, throughout which a collision left Collier injured. Coach Cheryl Reeve was ejected after blasting the league’s officiating as “harmful”; Reeve was later fined $15,000 and suspended for a sport. She is certainly one of a number of coaches who’ve been punished for publicly criticizing the league.
Collier stated officiating has now “reached ranges of inconsistency that plague our sport and undermine the integrity with which it operates.”
Star gamers improve league income, however low salaries stay
Many gamers additionally proceed to battle with the disparity between league income and their wages, a priority that Collier has additionally dropped at Engelbert’s consideration. Regardless of star gamers like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers making waves within the league, their salaries stay low.
The commissioner had this to say about it: “Caitlin must be grateful she makes $16 million off the court docket as a result of, with out the platform the WNBA provides her, she wouldn’t make something,” and that gamers must be “on their knees thanking their fortunate stars” for the league’s new 11-year media take care of Versant to have video games aired on USA Community, ESPN reported.
Elsewhere in her assertion, Collier, additionally a WNBPA vice chairman, stated the league operates totally on energy, suppressing each gamers’ and coaches’ voices to stifle criticism: “I’m not involved a few advantageous. I’m involved about the way forward for our sport. … I cannot stand quietly by.”
Since her scathing remarks towards Engelbert, Collier has obtained leaguewide assist in addressing the WNBA’s management. A number of gamers and coaches defended her, agreeing that adjustments have been wanted.
“I believe I agree with all the pieces [Collier] stated,” Lexie Hull, the Fever’s alternate participant rep for the WNBPA, stated earlier than the staff confronted a do-or-die semifinal sport towards the Aces, based on ESPN. “We’re at a extremely vital time within the league and adjustments should be made, and so that you’re seeing her discuss that, and actually pleased with her for making that assertion at this time.”
The WNBPA additionally praised Collier for her remarks: “Napheesa Collier is an impressive chief and Officer of this Union,” the WNBPA stated in an announcement. “When Phee speaks, individuals pay attention. We’re assured that her phrases at this time converse to the emotions and experiences of many, if not most or all of our members. The leaders of the league and its groups would profit from listening to her highly effective assertion. The gamers know their worth even when the league doesn’t. They’re preventing for his or her legacy and the way forward for basketball.”
Fever coach Stephanie White, who can be a former WNBA participant, commented as effectively, per ESPN: “I’ve a variety of respect for Phee. … I’m grateful that now we have robust ladies which can be prepared to say the issues that matter and say the issues that can transfer the needle for change.”
One other Fever participant, Sophie Cunningham, commented on an Instagram submit concerning Engelbert’s remarks about Clark: “individuals solely know Cathy due to [Caitlin]… She’s probably the most delusional chief our league has seen. … AND IT SHOULDN’T EVER BE ABOUT OUR COMMISSIONER IN THE FIRST PLACE.”
Las Vegas Aces star Aja Wilson, who received her fourth MVP Award, stated she was “disgusted” by Engelbert’s feedback and grateful that Collier shared her ideas, per ESPN.
“I’m grateful to have these kind of individuals to have the ability to proceed to talk up for us,” Wilson stated Tuesday evening following the Aces’ development to the finals. “I’m going to trip with Phee all the time. Clearly, she’s a enterprise girlie and he or she has her personal stuff happening, however transferring ahead, we’ve gotta proceed to face on enterprise as we discuss this CBA negotiation.”
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