The WNBA Finals may have concluded, but unrest continues to ripple through the league following Napheesa Collier‘s candid exit interview.
The Lynx forward and WNBPA Vice President sparked a major controversy when she publicly accused Cathy Engelbert, the WNBA Commissioner, of telling star players like Caitlin Clark to “be grateful” and “thank their lucky stars” for the exposure the league provides.
While Engelbert dismissed these claims as “inaccuracies,” the damage was done.
In the days that followed, nearly half of the league players, coaches, and fans stood firmly with Collier.
Fans made their feelings unmistakably clear by booing Engelbert during public appearances, underscoring the growing divide.
However, the reaction from league owners has been more nuanced and less supportive of Collier‘s approach than many expected.
An anonymous owner told ESPN on October 17, “If you fire her now, it’s admitting weakness. It’s a terrible look for the league… I can’t stand what [Collier] did. That was a private conversation. It makes me not want to fire her, even though I think she should be fired.”
This statement captures the owners’ complex stance, while they may sympathize with some of Collier‘s points, the method of airing grievances publicly has caused discomfort.
Owners question Engelbert’s leadership but hesitate to act
Beyond the fallout from Collier‘s comments, many owners are growing increasingly frustrated with Engelbert herself. Complaints have been raised about ongoing issues such as poor officiating, which frequently go unaddressed.
Her decision-making on business matters, like the controversial $75 million capital raise in 2022 that sold 16% of the WNBA, drew little praise.
Additionally, her handling of franchise sales, including the Connecticut Sun, has lacked transparency, with no formal proposals shared with the board.
Communication style is another sticking point. “I believe Napheesa’s comments… I think sometimes the approach of [Engelbert]’s message hasn’t always been delivered well,” one owner noted.
“CBA negotiations and other negotiations are always hard, but it might not have been as confrontational, I think, if there was a little bit better dialogue and relationship-building there. And I don’t know at this stage if that’s repairable or not.”
Despite her experience, having been involved in the 2019 collective bargaining agreement discussions alongside interim president Mark Tatum, Engelbert‘s inability to finalize deals has only deepened the divide.
Collier‘s explosive remarks, calling league leadership “the worst in the world,” have intensified pressure on the commissioner.
Some owners openly admit they would like to see a leadership change. “If I had a vote,” one said, “I would probably ask for a replacement.”
Such a call is rare in major leagues, where commissioners typically represent owners during sensitive negotiations like the ongoing CBA talks. Still, with the October 31 deadline looming and the league’s future at stake, owners see “change as a must.”
Public voices like Stephen A. Smith have already called for Engelbert‘s resignation, and many in the league agree.
However, removing her won’t be easy. Engelbert was appointed by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in 2019 in a historic hiring, the WNBA’s first-ever commissioner.
Since then, she has worked closely with Silver and the NBA, which holds a 42% stake in the league alongside WNBA owners.
The NBA’s financial support of the WNBA has been vital since its inception in 1996, and this close relationship partly explains the stalled CBA negotiations and hesitation to make drastic leadership changes.
As Terrika Foster-Brasby said on WNBA on NBC, “Cathy works for Adam,” highlighting how intertwined their fates are.
With the league’s profitability hinging on players returning to the court, and with trust fractured between players, owners, and leadership, the question remains: Will Cathy Engelbert be replaced?
For now, the tension signals that the WNBA is at a pivotal crossroads, one where meaningful dialogue and trust rebuilding are urgently needed.
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