Game 5 delivered heartbreak and clarity. Kelsey Mitchell gave everything she had until her legs couldn’t carry her any further. After hitting a deep three in the third quarter, the Fever guard was seen clutching her knees and soon after, limped off the court for medical treatment. She was ruled out and later hospitalized, casting a shadow over the game. But amid fierce competition, A’ja Wilson showed it’s rivalry, not resentment, that defines the WNBA.
Opening her postgame press conference, Wilson led with concern, not celebration.
“First off, just prayers for Kelsey Mitchell. That’s my draft partner, and to see her go down like that was not good. So, super prayers to her. She’s had a phenomenal season, and I really hope the Indiana Fever continue to take care of her.” Wilson said. She and Mitchell shared the stage at the 2018 draft when the Aces picked A’ja Wilson at No.1 while the Fever grabbed Mitchell at 2.
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Since then, their careers have diverged. A’ja Wilson is a part of the winning Aces side, while Mitchell battled with the Fever for 6 years and is just getting a taste of success. However, that puts the 2025 MVP in a special position to speak out on the league’s issues, specifically, supporting Napheesa Collier’s torching of Cathy Engelbert. “I’m going to ride with Phee always, because she knows obviously she’s a business girl and she has her own stuff going on. But moving forward, we got to continue to stand on business as we talk about this CBA negotiation.” Wilson told the media.
Who knows where the CBA negotiations stand after Collier’s exit interview, where she revealed some damning things about WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. The collective bargaining agreement expires on October 31. The expansion draft for the two new teams in December is already under threat of being postponed, including the start of free agency in January. Currently, we are closer to a work stoppage than a smooth 2026 season.
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“There’s been multiple proposals that have gone back and forth, and neither is close,” WNBPA first vice president Kelsey Plum said. “It feels almost the more that we have presented, the further away we are, which is just unfortunate.” However, this bomb from Collier could do further damage and effectively make some changes at the top.
According to Sports Business Journal, Engelbert is set to leave her role as commissioner, perhaps voluntarily, following the CBA negotiations. While a WNBA spokesperson denied the report, Engelbert is in the hot seat regardless. While under fire, it would be best to sort out the CBA as soon as possible. It could give her some support from the players and a set of fans to keep her job or bow out with some grace. Currently, there is a massive disconnect between the league and its players.
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WNBA And The WNBPA Clash In The Fundamentals
The players have been pretty clear from the start what their cursory requirements are for the new CBA. They need better pay with the rising revenues of the league, along with a revenue-sharing system that does not have a fixed component. The players want expanded rosters for more opportunities across the league, along with he expansion. While there are other topics discussed in the meetings, these two form the crux of the negotiations but according to Kelsey Plum.
“That’s the thing, if me and you aren’t set on going to the correct restaurant, who cares what we’re ordering as an appetizer?” Plum said. “First, second, third is rev share (and) salary. So when I say that we continue to propose and the counter proposals that are coming back are further away from where we thought we would be, that to me is — and I think a lot of the players are in agreement as a union — this is literally the meat and potatoes.”
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