Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson didn’t hold back during a Time Magazine interview, taking aim at WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert while reflecting on ongoing CBA negotiations.
A key factor in the negotiations is the players’ demand for a fairer share of revenue generated by the league.
While the WNBA proposed raising salaries to $1 million, this came with trade-offs, including reducing team-provided housing and shifting the season start to mid- or late March.
And Wilson‘s comments followed Napheesa Collier‘s recent callout as she directly addressed Engelbert, criticizing her for the league boss allegedly telling players to be thankful simply for having the opportunity to play professionally.
“I only know Cathy by when she hands me trophies,” Wilson said, during the Time interview with Sean Gregory.
“If that’s her true self, thank you for showing that. Thank you for saying those things. Because now we see you for who you are, and now we’re about to work even harder at this negotiation.”
She added, “We’re in a league where they’re like, ‘Oh, be happy you got private planes.’ No. That was just scratching the surface.”
Wilson becomes TIME Person of the Year
The culmination of Wilson‘s season-long dominance was being named Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year. Her accolades included her third WNBA championship, fourth MVP award, third Defensive Player of the Year award, and sixth All-WNBA selection.
She also earned her fifth All-Defensive honor and second WNBA Finals MVP, achievements that underscore her impact on both ends of the court. These individual and team successes solidified her place as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
In 2025, Wilson‘s excellence on the court was undeniable. She won her fourth WNBA MVP award and led the Aces to their third championship in four years, cementing her reputation as one of the league’s most dominant players.
The 29-year-old also reflected on the pressure of maintaining her dominance, explaining that early-season struggles only fueled her determination.
Through the first 16 games, the Aces were 8-8, leaving some to question whether Wilson could continue her reign at the top.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to get knocked down to get built back up,” Wilson said in her Time interview.
“I think 2025 was a wake-up call that I needed.To let me know that I can’t be satisfied with anything. There’s somebody out there that’s going to try to take your job. You need to make sure you’re great at it, every single day.”
Wilson‘s response proved pivotal as the Aces closed the regular season with 16 consecutive wins, with her performing at an MVP level and leading her team through a dominant playoff run that culminated in yet another championship.
Despite a challenging start to the season, she maintained focus, using the early adversity as motivation to elevate her game and propel the Aces to historic success.
With her second-half surge, Wilson has clearly shown that her dominance is far from over. The Time recognition is not only a testament to her 2025 accomplishments but also a signal that more accolades are likely to follow in her already impressive career.
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