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Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx reacts during the 2nd fractional of Game Three of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs semifinals (Image Source - Getty Images)
Napheesa Collier is saying what galore players mightiness already feel. The five-time WNBA All-Star and WNBPA vice president has called retired the league for mismanagement, rookie contracts that hardly bespeak the talent, and information failures that enactment athletes astatine risk.
Her vexation reveals a league that claims to elevate women’s sports but can’t get the basics right.
Napheesa Collier explains disapproval goes beyond Minnesota Lynx playoff loss
Napheesa Collier made it wide during her property league connected September 30 that her disapproval wasn't focused connected the playoff bid results. Rather, she pointed retired the deeper systemic problems affecting the league, referring to her notes for amended clarity."We person the champion league successful the world. We person the champion fans successful the world.
But close now, we person the worst enactment successful the world," In Minneapolis, Collier addressed reporters head-on. She criticized the league bureau for its "lack of accountability," claiming it jeopardizes subordinate wellness and the "integrity" of the game.
She emphasized, "Since I’ve been successful the league, you’ve heard the changeless concerns astir officiating, and it has present reached levels of inconsistency that plague our sport," she stated.
Collier labeled it "negligence" from Engelbert, stating that the league turns a unsighted oculus to fixes contempt receiving complaints twelvemonth aft year.She shared a backstage chat from February 2025 with Engelbert during the archetypal Unrivaled 3-on-3 league event, which was co-founded by Collier and Breanna Stewart.When Collier inquired astir managing issues, Engelbert supposedly responded, "Only the losers kick astir the refs."
Collier pointed retired the contented of debased rookie salaries for important gross players similar Caitlin Clark of Indiana, Angel Reese from Chicago, and UConn's Paige Bueckers, who is acceptable to participate the 2026 draft.
Engelbert reportedly commented connected Clark, "should beryllium grateful she makes $16 cardinal disconnected the tribunal due to the fact that without the level that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t marque anything," and that players should beryllium "on their knees thanking their fortunate stars for the media rights woody that I got them."Collier was "infuriated" that Engelbert didn't scope retired to her aft her injury, peculiarly since the league was downplaying however overmuch carnal play contributes to injuries. "Whether the league cares astir the wellness of our players is 1 thing, but to besides not attraction astir the merchandise we enactment connected the level is genuinely self-sabotage," she concluded.
As the vice president of the WNBPA, Collier positioned her remarks arsenic a propulsion for alteration earlier the CBA discussions, wherever players are aiming for accrued salaries, improved benefits, and changes successful officiating.
She expected fines for her "free speech," adding, "It seems similar thing with escaped code is fined now."
Cathy Engelbert responds to Napheesa Collier with respect
Shortly aft Collier's statement, Engelbert responded via WNBA Communications connected September 30, 2025. "I person the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for each the players successful the WNBA," she wrote. "Together we person each worked tirelessly to alteration this league. My absorption remains connected ensuring a agleam aboriginal for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating connected however we proceed to elevate the game."
Engelbert added, "I americium disheartened by however Napheesa characterized our conversations and league leadership, but adjacent erstwhile our perspectives differ, my committedness to the players and to this enactment volition not waver." She did not code the circumstantial quotes attributed to her.Collier's information arsenic an important fig successful advocating for subordinate empowerment. With the WNBA finals starting betwixt Phoenix and the victor of New York-Las Vegas, each attraction is connected whether this uproar volition effect successful existent changes, oregon fines for Collier.Also Read: Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce snaps nether unit and teammates fearfulness he’s astir to break
