The WNBA is going through a turbulent time after the harsh statements of Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx star and runner-up for the MVP, who accused commissioner Cathy Engelbert of a lack of leadership and of being insensitive to the realities of the players.

“We have the best league in the world, the best fans in the world, but the worst leadership in the world,” Collier said at a press conference that quickly sparked controversy inside and outside the league.

For more than four minutes, Collier read a statement in which she recounted private conversations with Engelbert, whom she accused of not taking responsibility on crucial issues such as:

Collier said that after her playoff injury she did not receive a single call or text from the commissioner, which she considered a clear example of a “deaf and contemptuous” attitude toward the players.

Controversial statements about Caitlin Clark

Collier revealed that in a private meeting, Engelbert had said that Caitlin Clark should be “grateful” to the WNBA, because without the league she would not have the millions in endorsements she has earned.

In addition, she noted that the commissioner had even said that the players should be “on her knees in gratitude” for the television rights deal reached under her watch.

Cathy Engelbert's Response

Commissioner Engelbert responded shortly after with a statement in which she said she was “heartbroken” by Collier's remarks, although she avoided directly denying the attributed remarks.

“I have the utmost respect for Napheesa and all of the WNBA players. My commitment remains to ensure a bright future for the league and continuing to raise the level of the game,” she said.

However, her words have not calmed the tension. In Game 5 of the semifinals between the Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever, fans booed Engelbert's pre-recorded video that is shown before each game.

Collier's statements come at a key moment, as the WNBA Players Association, where she is vice president, is preparing for a complex collective bargaining agreement negotiation.

The gap between growing global interest and limited salaries (a supermax contract is around $250,000, while rookies earn around $78,000) has intensified tensions.