Caitlin Clark responded directly to the controversy sparked earlier this week by Indiana Fever star Napheesa Collier, making her initial public comments since WNBA All-Star Weekend, on Thursday. Collier accused WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert of dismissing player concerns during recent discussions about officiating and salaries.
Although Clark said she didn’t hear about Engelbert’s alleged remark that she should be “grateful” for her off-court earnings, she stood firmly in support of Collier.
“Phee made a lot of very valid points,” Clark said. “I have great respect for Phee, and Phee said it all. What people need to understand is that we need great leadership at this time across all levels. This is the most important moment in this league’s history, and we have to capitalize on it.”
Engelbert’s Alleged Remarks
According to Collier, Engelbert told her that Clark’s ability to make $16 million off the court was a direct result of the WNBA platform, and without it, she would not have had such opportunities. According to Engelbert, players should be “on their knees thanking their lucky stars” for the league’s media rights deal.
Clark did not directly comment on Engelbert’s alleged statement, but mentioned that there have been opportunities for name, image, and likeness (NIL). College stars have the chance to grow their brands before entering the league, which is something she leveraged during her record-setting career at Iowa.
Defining Leadership
When asked what she believes strong leadership looks like, Clark emphasized the importance of building trust and fostering relationships.
“It is all about relationships, and that’s the truth,” Clark said. “Why would my teammates want to listen to me if I didn’t have a relationship with them? It’s the same with league leadership. Whether it’s your front office, commissioner, or teammates, leadership comes down to genuinely caring about the people around you.”
According to Clark, the importance of intentionality in relationships and empathy is equal to that of business decisions, particularly in professional sports.
Cunningham’s Strong Words
Sophie Cunningham, Clark’s Fever teammate, was much more direct when criticizing the league leadership. Cunningham expressed her dissatisfaction with Engelbert after Collier’s statement and accused the commissioner of prioritizing herself over players.
“Everything that Napheesa said, we all feel that way, and we’re all going to back her,” Cunningham said. “They’re failing us as a league and failing us as players. NBA players even reach out in awe of how terrible it is for us.”
Players are feeling frustrated due to poor officiating, limited progress on salary issues, and disappointing leadership during collective bargaining agreement negotiations, according to Cunningham.
CBA Talks and Possible Lockout
Last year, the WNBPA rejected the eight-year CBA, and the contract will expire on October 31st. Cunningham suggested that players are preparing for a potential lockout if they don’t make progress.
“There’s a potential lockout, because I promise you we are not going to play until they give us what we deserve,” she said. “It would be the dumbest business decision ever, considering the momentum the WNBA has right now.”
Clark’s Injury Recovery
Despite the off-court turmoil, Clark is still recovering from the injuries that cut her rookie campaign short. After playing only 13 games, she suffered both groin and ankle injuries, the latter of which she called one of the worst sprains she has experienced. Clark stated that she has recently started feeling her best again and is looking forward to resuming 5-on-5 work by the end of October. As she anticipates 2026, she is also preparing for potential opportunities with USA Basketball.