MN Lynx Star Napheesa Collier Challenges WNBA Accountability in Stunning Statement

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Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Lynx were bounced from the WNBA playoffs against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 4 of the league semifinals. Despite being the top seed after finishing with a 34-10 record, a home collapse in Game 2 set the wheels in motion.

It was Game 3 where headlines were made after head coach Cheryl Reeve lost it on the officials. Controversial contact on a final play put superstar Napheesa Collier in a boot after needing to be helped off the floor. Reeve went on to let officiating and the league office have it in her postgame press conference.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert responded by suspending Minnesota’s head coach for the pivotal Game 4 matchup. While Collier was injured and unable to play in that contest, she prepared a statement and had her own thoughts to share with the league office.

Cathy Engelbert
Credit: Andrew Dolph / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Napheesa Collier calls for accountability from WNBA

It is rare that players will offer comments or statements outside of the immediate emotions following a game. While Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier was dealing with the fallout of her injury, she had time to reflect. On Tuesday, at a season-ending press conference, she came correct and direct right at the league office.

“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. Since I’ve been in the league, you’ve heard the constant concerns about officiating. It has now reached levels of inconsistency that plague our sport and undermine the integrity in which it operates. Whether the league cares about the health of the players is one thing, but to also not care about the product we put on the floor is truly self-sabotage. Year-after-year, the only thing that remains consistent, is the lack of accountability from our leaders.

The league has a buzzword that they’ve rolled out as talking points for the CBA as to why they can’t pay the players what we’re worth. That word is sustainability. What’s truly unsustainable is keeping a good product on the floor while allowing officials to lose control of games. Fans see it every night. Coaches, both winning and losing, point it out every night in pregame and postgame media. Yet leadership just issues fines and looks the other way. They ignore the issues that everyone inside the game is begging to be fixed. That is negligence.

At Unrivaled this past February, I sat across from Cathy [Engelbert] and asked how she planned to address the officiating issues in our league. Her response was, ‘only the losers complain about the refs.’ I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like Caitlin [Clark], Angel [Reese], and Paige [Bueckers], who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league, are making so little for their first four years. Her response was, ‘Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.’ In that same conversation she told me, ‘players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them.’

That’s the mentality driving our league from the top. We got to battle every day to protect a shield that doesn’t value us. The league believes it succeeds despite its players, not because of them. I have the privilege of watching my husband run a league where he has to balance 100 different things at once. I won’t pretend the job is easy, but even with all of that on his plate, he always takes the time to reach out to players when he sees an injury whether it’s Unrivaled or even during the WNBA season. That is what leadership looks like. It’s the human element. It’s basic integrity. It’s the bare minimum and leader should embody.

This year alone I’ve gotten calls, texts, and so many well-wishes from players across the league. Those moments remind me that sometimes there are things bigger than the results in this game we play. You know who I haven’t heard from? Cathy. Not one call, not one text. Instead, the only outreach has come from her number two telling my agent that she doesn’t believe physical play is contributing to injuries. That is infuriating. It’s the perfect example of a tone-deaf, dismissive approach, that our leaders always seem to take.

I’ve finally grown tired. For too long, I have tried to have these conversations in private. It’s clear there is no intention of accepting there’s a problem. The league has made it clear, it isn’t about innovation, it isn’t about collaboration, it’s about control and power. I’ve earned this platform and I paid the price to get here. Now I have a responsibility to speak on behalf of the fans, and everyone in this league that deserves better.

Our leadership’s answer to being held accountable is to suppress everyone’s voices by handing out fines. I’m not concerned about a fine. I’m concerned about the future of our sport. At some point, everyone deserves to hear the truth from someone, who I hope, has earned the benefit of doubt to fight for what is right and fair for our athletes and our fans. We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world. Right now, we have the worst leadership in the world. If I didn’t know exactly what the job entailed, maybe I wouldn’t feel this way. Unfortunately for them, I do.

We serve a league that thinks championship coaches and Hall of Fame players are dispensable. That’s fine, it’s professional sports. I will not stand quietly by and allow different standards to be applied at the league level. Thank you.”

Napheesa Collier

A superstar platform who’s not alone

That level of transparency is not something you ever see from an individual player, in any league. Collier went out on a limb, was honest, heartfelt, and reasoned. Her absolute takedown of Engelbert and WNBA leadership could not have hit harder. She’s also not alone.

Becky Hammon and Stephanie White both agreed with Minnesota Lynx coach Reeve’s comments following Collier’s injury. Maybe she came too harshly or allowed emotions to spark the words. This has been going on for long enough in the league though, and it’s been problematic all year. Caitlin Clark has consistently been a target of physical play, and multiple superstars are on the sidelines due to injury.

Then again, for Engelbert to actually take accountability of the mess she has created, there would have to be a level of self awareness. The league’s officiating cost the Lynx a title just a season ago, and she was there in a dress supporting an opponent while sitting courtside.

The league’s best player just took aim at the top executive. If that’s not enough to make changes then nothing will be.

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