WNBA star Napheesa Collier ignited debate this week after calling out the league’s commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, for what she described as a “lack of accountability.”
In a statement at an end-of-season press conference, Collier accused Engelbert of dismissing players’ concerns about fair compensation and excessive physicality during games that some players believe is causing more injuries.
The Minnesota Lynx forward tore several ankle ligaments during her last game of the season last week. Afterward, Collier said she received “calls, texts and well wishes from so many players across the league.” She only received a message from Englebert’s “No. 2,” expressing that Engelbert “doesn’t believe physical play is contributing to injuries,” Collier added.
“That is infuriating, and it’s the perfect example of the tone-deaf, dismissive approach that our leaders always seem to take,” Collier told reporters.
“I’ve finally grown tired,” she continued. “For too long, I have tried to have these conversations in private, but it’s clear there’s no intention of accepting there’s a problem. The league has made it clear it isn’t about innovation, it isn’t about collaboration, it’s about control and power.”
Engelbert is now facing calls for her resignation, which come as the league has seen explosive growth in popularity and revenue.
Here is what you need to know about the dispute:
Who is involved?
Napheesa “Phee” Collier: A forward for the Minnesota Lynx who has played in the WNBA since 2019. In addition to being a star player in the league (she was runner-up for 2025 MVP) and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, she is also vice president of the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA), the league’s union for players.
Cathy Engelbert: WNBA commissioner since 2019. She primarily oversees the league’s strategic decision making and business operations.
What is the dispute?
On September 30, Collier made a prepared statement at an end-of-season press conference criticizing a “lack of accountability” from the league’s executive leadership.
Collier cited private conversations she had with Engelbert where she raised concerns about player injuries, fair compensation for players and inconsistencies from referees while officiating games that she argues undermine the “integrity” of the game.
“I sat across from Cathy and asked how she planned to address the officiating issues in our league. Her response was, ‘Well, only the losers complain about the refs,’” Collier said during the press conference. “I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like Caitlin [Clark], Angel [Reese] and Paige [Bueckers] — who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league — are making so little for their first four years. Her response was, ‘Caitlin should be grateful she makes 16 million off the court, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.’”
Collier continued: “And in that same conversation, she told me, ‘Players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them.’ That’s the mentality driving our league from the top, we go to battle every day to protect a shield that doesn’t value us.”
In 2024, the WNBA announced an 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC that is worth about $200 million a year. The league last month also announced a separate 11-year media rights agreement with USA Network.
How are other players responding?
WNBA players took to social media and spoke in press conferences to show support for Collier as clips of her statement went viral online.
A’ja Wilson, the 2025 league MVP who plays for the Las Vegas Aces, praised Collier and said she was “disgusted” by the alleged comments from Engelbert.
“I’m very appreciative that we have people like Phee in our committee of our players association representing us, because that’s where we’re going to have to continue to make the push to stand on what we believe in.”
“10/10. No notes!” Chicago Sky star Angel Reese posted on X.
Paige Bueckers on the Dallas Wings posted a photo to her Instagram story of herself and Collier with the words “Queen Phee.”
What was the commissioner’s response?
In a statement on September 30 responding to Collier, Engelbert said:
“I have the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA. Together we have all worked tirelessly to transform this league. My focus remains on ensuring a bright future for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating on how we continue to elevate the game. I am disheartened by how Napheesa characterized our conversations and league leadership, but even when our perspectives differ, my commitment to the players and to this work will not waver.”
Where is this coming from?
Collier’s remarks came as the player’s union is negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement to address pay, working conditions and safety for players. The current agreement expires at the end of this month. Two of the players’ key priorities are raising the league’s salary caps and changing up the league’s current revenue-sharing system.
The salary cap for the 2025 season is $1,507,100 per team. For Clark, the base salary for her second year with the Indiana Fever is $78,066 in 2025, and the league’s highest-paid athlete, Clark’s teammate Kelsey Mitchell, is making a base salary of $249,244.
Revenue sharing is another way players receive direct compensation and involves players getting a portion of the league’s earnings. For the WNBA’s current system, players are eligible to receive a percentage of the revenue after the league reaches certain targets outlined in the collective bargaining agreement signed in early 2020. Players are pushing to receive a larger portion of the revenue, particularly as the league’s visibility grows.
“The players are still adamant that we get a percentage of revenue that grows with the business, which perhaps includes team revenue, and that’s just a part of the conversation,” WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike told ESPN in August.
Why are the players speaking out?
Since last year, the value of the WNBA’s 13 teams has reportedly jumped by 180 percent, according to the publication Sportico. Game viewership and attendance have also reached historic levels. But players argue their compensation does not match this growth. They have also raised concerns about inconsistent officiating by referees and excessive physicality during games.
Broadly, WNBA players are some of the most politically outspoken athletes in the country. They have weighed in on racial and gender disparities, voting and reproductive rights as well as discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. They have also been vocal about pay and work opportunities for themselves.
In 2023, Collier and New York Liberty player Breanna Stewart founded a 3-on-3 basketball league called Unrivaled as a way to help players make money during the off season.