The WNBA season is nearing its end, with the Phoenix Mercury having clinched a spot in the WNBA Finals already. They will await the winner of a Game 5 between the Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever, the latter of which is on an incredible run without their star player, Caitlin Clark.
The Mercury ended up winning their series handily, getting it done in four games and knocking out the Minnesota Lynx after All-Star Napheesa Collier went down with an ankle injury in Game 3. Collier’s presence was sorely missed, and she was obviously upset she couldn’t contribute in the final game of the season. With the injury weighing on her mind, Collier took things a step further following the playoff elimination.
Napheesa Collier takes blowtorch to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert
Collier took aim at WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in her exit interview with the media, before jetting off for the offseason. The Lynx star had choice words for the league’s poor officiating, which she believes has only gotten worse due to Engelbert’s unwillingness to make changes.
The real threat to our league isn’t money, it isn’t ratings or even missed calls or even physical play. It’s the lack of accountability from the league office. Since I’ve been in the league, you’ve heard the constant concerns about officiating and it has now reached levels of inconsistency that plague our sport and undermine the integrity with which it operates. Whether the league cares about the health of the players is one thing, but to also not care about the product we put on the floor is truly self-sabotage. Year after year, the only thing that remains consistent is the lack of accountability from our leaders.
Collier continued to go in on Engelbert, calling her out for not reaching out to the player following her injury. Collier is upset that officials aren’t enforcing overly physical play, which has led to injuries for several players in the league. According to Collier, Engelbert’s “No. 2” told her agent that the league “doesn’t believe physical play is contributing to injuries”.
Earlier this season, the league came under fire following a heated contest between the Fever and Connecticut Sun, where Clark and other players could have gotten seriously hurt due to strong fouls. It’s fair to wonder whether stars like Clark or Collier could choose to leave the WNBA if things like that aren’t addressed over the next couple of seasons.
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