🏀 WNBA “Exposes” Leadership: Low Salaries, Bad Treatment… Or Just Lack of Responsibility?.P1

WNBA Star Napheesa Collier Calls Out League Leadership Over Pay, Officiating, and Accountability

In a rare and pointed critique, WNBA All-Star Napheesa Collier used a postgame press conference to publicly challenge the league’s leadership, questioning not only the policies of commissioner Cathy Engelbert but the overall management of professional women’s basketball. The Minnesota Lynx forward, a five-time All-Star and vice president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, did not hold back, asserting that the league’s leadership is failing its players at a critical moment in the WNBA’s growth.

“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 declared, underscoring her frustration with how the league handles issues ranging from pay to officiating. Her remarks came after the Lynx ended their season following a four-game series loss to the Phoenix Mercury, during which Collier suffered an ankle injury in game three—a moment that highlighted both player safety and refereeing concerns.

Collier devoted much of her address to inconsistent officiating, calling it an act of “self-sabotage” by the league. The comments come as players continue to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, with concerns about salaries and revenue sharing at the forefront. Collier emphasized that leadership missteps not only affect players’ compensation and well-being but also undermine the quality of the product delivered to fans, potentially stunting the sport’s growth. She highlighted emerging stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, warning that the league is missing an opportunity to capitalize on their rise.

“The real threat to our league isn’t money. It isn’t ratings or even missed calls,” Collier said. “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, and it has now reached levels of inconsistency that plague our sport and undermine the integrity in which it operates.”

Collier recalled a private conversation with Engelbert in which she raised concerns about low pay for young stars like Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, and Caitlin Clark. According to Collier, Engelbert’s response suggested that off-court earnings should compensate for what players make in the league, a stance Collier described as dismissive. Players like Bueckers have publicly emphasized that as the game grows and generates more revenue, they deserve a larger share.

In addition to pay disputes, Collier criticized how the league penalized coaches who publicly questioned officiating. Following game three, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was fined $15,000 and suspended for challenging a referee. Similarly, Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon and Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White were fined for defending Reeve. “Our leadership’s ability to [be] held accountable is to suppress everyone’s voices by handing out fines,” Collier said. “I’m not concerned about a fine. I’m concerned about the future of our sport.”

The WNBA is in the midst of negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement ahead of the current deal’s expiration on October 31. Players are advocating for higher salaries, revenue-sharing arrangements, and overall recognition of their role in the league’s growth. While WNBA teams have soared in value—an average team is now estimated at $269 million, a 180% increase from 2024—the disparity between revenue growth and player compensation remains a point of contention.

Commissioner Engelbert responded to Collier’s remarks, expressing respect for the player but emphasizing a commitment to collaboration. “Even when our perspectives differ, my commitment to the players and to this work will not waver,” she said in a statement.

As the WNBA navigates both expansion and growing public interest, Collier’s pointed comments bring a spotlight to long-standing issues of accountability, pay equity, and officiating integrity, forcing the league to confront challenges that echo controversies in professional sports worldwide, including the NBA.