Following the critique from one of the league’s athletes, WNBA leader Cathy Engelbert recognized the need for improvements within her leadership and the league’s operations.
The friction between the league and its players intensified on Tuesday, as Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier expressed strong opinions during her season’s ending conference. Collier delivered a comprehensive statement accusing the WNBA leadership of being ineffective. Her remarks quickly garnered backing from other athletes and supporters.
In a press briefing before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Friday, Engelbert conveyed her disappointment in response to Collier’s statements, while expressing that she welcomed “difficult but necessary conversations.”
“I felt disheartened upon learning that certain athletes perceive a lack of care or attention from the league, and myself personally. If the players in the W do not feel valued or appreciated by the league, then we must improve, and I must improve,” Engelbert stated. “Nobody should question the depth of my commitment to this league, this sport, and every athlete contributing to the WNBA’s success.”
Engelbert acknowledged the challenges she faced because of Collier’s remarks, which directly implicated her as the central issue.
“I’m also a person with a family, including two children who are deeply affected by these comments,” Engelbert shared. “This week has been undoubtedly difficult.”
She mentioned having spoken with Collier and expressed plans to meet with her sometime next week after the Finals commence, even though specific details regarding the meeting have not been set up.
Engelbert did not refute many claims raised by Collier, including allegations of indifference towards the players by the WNBA administration and claims that Engelbert told Collier that players should feel “grateful” for what the league has provided.
The commissioner cited “inaccuracy” and “sensationalism,” pointing to social media and journalistic reporting instead of specifically addressing Collier’s criticisms. Engelbert believed it would be “unproductive” to go through and argue against each point Collier made.
However, Engelbert did challenge Collier’s assertion that the commissioner mentioned Caitlin Clark “should be grateful” for her income from sponsorships “because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.”
“It’s clear that I did not make such comments,” Engelbert defended, describing Clark as “a game-changing player” for the league.
Engelbert addresses officiating and CBA matters
Collier’s expression came at the close of a tense year between the league and its players while the two parties negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. Another issue is inconsistent officiating, which has plagued the league throughout the season and, some players assert, resulted in several serious injuries.
Engelbert discussed both concerns during Friday’s press conference. Regarding referees, she recognized the disagreement between what she referred to as “good aggressive play” versus dangerous play, stating that she and the league would work to “calibrate the line” this offseason.
“Referees and their work serve the game,” Engelbert stated. “It seems apparent that we’re not aligned with the desires of our stakeholders … [and] there are no more critical stakeholders than our players.”
Engelbert said that the league’s competition committee will assess officiating once the season concludes, as per usual, but also made public a new task force to deal with worries about the state of the game.
As for the CBA: Multiple players, including Collier, have talked about the stalemate between the two sides, claiming the league continues to bring up “sustainability” when discussing potential salary increases for the players. Engelbert mentioned this keyword on Friday, stating that the W plans to balance what she referred to as “substantial” pay raises and revenue-sharing agreements with the “long-term stability of the league.”
“We share the same goals as the players,” Engelbert repeated during the press briefing.
The deadline for negotiations is Oct. 31, following the WNBA players association (WNBPA) choosing to opt out of the current CBA last fall. On Friday, Engelbert said that while both sides are “working really hard” before that deadline, she suggested a possible extension.
“We have extended deadlines in the past,” Engelbert said, mentioning the current CBA, which was finalized within six months of her term as commissioner.
Engelbert added that she intended to work on maintaining positive relationships with the players in the league, saying she had already engaged with several this week.
“I’ve never been someone who gives up, or avoids challenges … if we identify areas that need fixing, we will address them,” Engelbert declared. “There are numerous possibilities for collaboration, and I hope the players recognize that.”
“I am confident that we can repair any breakdown in trust.”
