Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier rocked the WNBA and sports world when she dropped a lengthy statement, calling out the league’s leadership. That included Collier mentioning conversations with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, and sharing what she said about superstar Caitlin Clark and others.
Based on Collier’s retelling of Engelbert’s remarks, the commissioner said Clark and other players should be grateful for the opportunity to play in the WNBA and the various merchandise deals she’s brought their way.
Those comments, among others, brought other WNBA stars to react to what Collier said, and the majority were supportive of her shaking things up.
Clark’s Indiana Fever teammate, Sophie Cunningham, was initially outspoken on social media after Collier’s statement to the WNBA leadership set off shockwaves.
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More recently, Cunningham released a more detailed reaction to Collier’s statement. She again showed support for what the Lynx star said, and focused part of her rant on Engelbert during a portion of her “Show Me Something” podcast.
“Great leaders want to see other people be more successful than them,” Cunningham said in a portion of her latest comments.
“I get it, she’s the business side of it. Like I get it. But you can be respectful and treat your product, the product of why people are paying attention, why people are buying certain jerseys- Treat your product with respect,” she shared.
“Like, be a great leader. She’s not. She’s not in any sense. The disrespect is just crazy to me,” Cunningham said on her recent podcast.
Cunningham also said it’s a “pivotal point” for the WNBA with millions of new fans, but suggested that Engelbert is only worried about herself and not others in the league.
“Cathy, no one cares. Literally, no one cares!” Cunningham said in part of her rant about the WNBA and its leadership.
Engelbert began as the league’s commissioner in 2019. Following recent remarks from Collier and others, some fans and analysts are suggesting that the WNBA needs a new commissioner.
Collier made her significant statement after her devastating injury that saw her unable to participate in a must-win game for her Lynx. In addition to criticizing the WNBA leadership, she suggested that officiating and the player payment system could also be overhauled, among other topics.
The Lynx star also said she believed the league would fine her for her remarks, but as of this writing, they’ve yet to hand out any fine. Cunningham joked on her podcast, “I’m out of season, so I don’t think they can fine me anymore.”
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