Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has been sidelined since mid-July with a groin injury; however, this week, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year found her name in headlines during Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier‘s exit interview with members of the press.
After going down with an injury in Game 3 following a controversial no-call, Napheesa Collier took aim at Engelbert and the league for not holding officials accountable.
While reading from a written statement, Collier opened up on a conversation she had with Engelbert, where the WNBA commissioner had some harsh words for players who have gripes with the league’s pay structure.
“I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like Caitlin, Angel and Paige, 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 $60 million off the court because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.’
“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. The league believes it succeeds despite its players, not because of them.”
So far, Engelbert has yet to respond.
‘Only the Losers Complain About the Refs,’ – Collier Recalls Meeting With Cathy Engelbert
While speaking with members of the press on Tuesday, Collier reflected on how she brought up referee accountability during her meeting with Cathy Engelbert.
In response, she stated that the WNBA commissioner deflected blame to players, downplaying missed calls:
“At Unrivaled this past February, 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.'”
She continued:
“That is infuriating. And it’s the perfect example of the tone deaf, dismissive approach that our leaders always seem to take. I’ve finally grown tired. For too long, I’ve 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.”
Caitlin Clark’s Coach Fined for Supporting Lynx Coach Cheryl Reeve
Napheesa Collier’s comments on Tuesday came on the heels of the WNBA fining Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve for her post-game comments regarding the WNBA’s leadership, and its officiating.
After being fined $1,000 for what the league deemed to be “public criticism of officiating” according to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, White spoke to members of the press after the Fever’s practice on Monday:
“Look, I already got fined for supporting Cheryl, which I think is crazy. There’s nothing we want more than just consistency. That’s what I would say.”
So far, the league has yet to respond, however, the expectation is that WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert will likely field questions about the situation sometime between now and the end of the season.
WNBA Commissioner Has Harsh Words for Caitlin Clark, Says Star