Recent remarks by NBA commissioner Adam Silver have raised questions about Cathy Engelbert’s tenure as WNBA commissioner, amid growing scrutiny over her handling of league-player relations and the ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
Silver attempted to downplay tension between the league and its players, but it became hard to ignore after Engelbert was booed on stage whilst the Las Vegas Aces collected the championship trophy.
“There’s relationship issues as well. I’m confident we can fix those over time,” Silver, the NBA supremo said, as he aims to calm troubled waters in the WNBA’s ranks.
While diplomatic, the comments indirectly highlight that the focus may be shifting from Engelbert to the WNBA’s broader player relations after Napheesa Collier’s explosive claims involving Caitlin Clark.
The WNBA commissioner is under fire from players and fans alike. For example, Sophie Cunningham, Clark’s teammate, wrote on Instagram, “Cathy’s the most delusional leader our league has seen.”
Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and Clark’s coach Stephanie White publicly defended Collier after it was claimed that Engelbert said Clark, the Indiana Fever star, should be grateful to have made the money she has from the WNBA.
Speculation about Engelbert’s future intensified after The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II reported that WNBA and NBA sources suggest the controversy “might accelerate a change that was already coming.”
Earlier, the Sports Business Journal claimed Engelbert could even step down after the collective bargaining agreement negotiations, which must be concluded by the end of October to avoid a lockout. However, she denies these claims.
“Obviously, I’ve never been a quitter. I’m entering my 40th year, actually, this month in business,” Engelbert said. “Never been a quitter, never shied away from tough situations.”
Is Cathy Engelbert under pressure from Adam Silver?
The coming days could prove decisive for Engelbert. With high-profile players and media voices increasingly critical, her ability to address these concerns quickly may determine whether she remains in her position or steps aside – with Silver watching closely.
Despite criticism, Engelbert has maintained professionalism and credited players for elevating the league, showing her ability to stay composed under pressure.
However, as the noise continues to grow, Terrika Foster-Brasby thinks Silver is protecting Engelbert from blame.
“If you look at Adam Silver’s comments,” Foster-Brasby said on We Need To Talk. “He said there’s relationship issues that we need to fix with our players.
“He didn’t say there’s an issue that we need to fix with our commissioner. He didn’t say there’s a problem that we need to discuss between both the commissioner and the players. aid there’s an issue that we need to fix with our players.”
While Silver may have simply prioritized the immediate concerns with players, Foster-Brasby and Ty Carter suggest there could be an underlying message about Engelbert’s position.
“So to me, it sounds like he is behind Cathy Engelbert,” Carter said. “And probably doesn’t want to see her remain as commissioner.
So it will be interesting to see what this dynamic eventually looks like.”
Read the full article here
