The Las Vegas Aces were ready to celebrate. After beating the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 on Friday night, the Aces claimed their third WNBA title in four years. Fans cheered, music blasted, and confetti filled the air. But the mood changed fast whenWNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbertstepped up to present the championship trophy.
Instead of cheers, she got hit with a wave of boos. Loud, unrelenting, and impossible to ignore.
The reaction didn’t come out of nowhere. Over the past few weeks, frustration toward Engelbert has been growing across the league. Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier recently called out the commissioner for ignoring player concerns about pay and inconsistent officiating. Collier said the league’s biggest issue isn’t money or TV ratings: it’s “a lack of accountability from the top.”
Engelbert denied those claims, saying before Game 1 that she values player feedback and wants to “do better.” But for many fans and players, the trust has already cracked.
A Championship Night Turns Political
As Engelbert took the stage in Las Vegas, fans made their feelings clear. Cameras showed A’ja Wilson smirking and even joining in as the boos poured down. The clip spread quickly online, not just as a viral moment, but as a sign of something deeper.
Earlier this month, Wilsonsaid she was “disgusted” by Engelbert’s alleged comments about rookie contracts and player pay. On Friday, she didn’t need words. Her reaction said it all.
When Engelbert handed the trophy to Aces owner Mark Davis, the crowd was still booing. Wilson smiled for photos, but the tension in the arena hung heavy.
For the WNBA, it was a defining moment, one where celebration met confrontation. The Aces are champions again, but the league’s biggest battle might be happening off the court.
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