Fever Guard Joins Collier in Blasting WNBA Commissioner Over Clark Comments
The tension between WNBA players and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert escalated further this week, after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham publicly criticized Engelbert in the wake of Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier’s explosive exit interview. At the center of the storm are alleged remarks by the commissioner downplaying both officiating concerns and the value of young stars such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers.
Collier’s comments, made on Tuesday afternoon, immediately went viral. In her telling, a private conversation with Engelbert earlier this year left her stunned. When Collier raised the issue of inconsistent officiating, she says Engelbert dismissed the concern, telling her, “Well, only the losers complain about the refs.” The Lynx forward then asked how the league planned to address compensation gaps for rookies and young players who are driving unprecedented growth for the WNBA but remain tied to restrictive contracts. Engelbert’s alleged response struck a deeper nerve.
According to Collier, Engelbert said of Clark, “She should be grateful. She makes $16 million off the court because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.” Collier further alleged that Engelbert told her, “Players should be on their knees, thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them.”
Those words set off shockwaves across the league and beyond, with players and fans expressing outrage at what many viewed as dismissive, disrespectful rhetoric from the league’s top executive. Cunningham, a seven-year veteran known for her fiery personality, didn’t stay silent. Instead, she took to Instagram to torch Engelbert, commenting under a news outlet’s post and aligning herself with Collier’s frustrations.
Cunningham’s criticism quickly spread across social media, drawing both praise and speculation about how the league office might respond. In recent months, the WNBA has fined players for public comments about officiating, including Caitlin Clark, who was docked $200 earlier in the playoffs. That precedent led some fans to jokingly propose a GoFundMe campaign to cover Cunningham’s “inevitable fine” for her outspoken remarks. Cunningham herself leaned into the humor, quipping that she could easily raise the money in less than an hour if such a campaign ever went live.
Behind the jokes, however, lies a serious debate about the direction of the WNBA under Engelbert’s leadership. With record-breaking attendance, soaring television ratings, and a new wave of stars capturing mainstream attention, the league is at a pivotal crossroads. Yet questions of player treatment, pay equity, and respect from leadership remain unresolved. For players like Collier and Cunningham, Engelbert’s alleged comments reinforced the sense that those at the top are out of touch with the realities and sacrifices of the athletes driving the league’s success.
The issue of rookie contracts, in particular, has grown more pressing as Clark, Reese, and other young stars dominate headlines and fuel revenue growth but remain tied to salaries far below their market value. While endorsement deals and outside earnings soften the financial blow, players argue that their on-court contributions should be recognized within the league’s structure, not dismissed as a fortunate byproduct of exposure.
As of Wednesday, the WNBA has not issued a public response to the controversy, nor has Engelbert addressed the comments attributed to her. The silence has only fueled speculation and frustration, with fans and players alike awaiting clarity.
For Cunningham and Collier, speaking out carries risks—not only of fines but of potential strain with league leadership. Yet their willingness to confront the commissioner signals a broader shift in player empowerment, as athletes demand accountability and transparency in an era where their voices carry more weight than ever.
Whether Engelbert’s alleged remarks were misinterpreted, exaggerated, or accurately reported, the fallout has already reshaped the conversation around the WNBA’s leadership and its treatment of its brightest stars. And if the league’s commissioner hoped these concerns would quietly fade, the defiance of players like Collier and Cunningham suggests that silence is no longer an option.
Leave a Reply