Shock in WNBA: Napheesa Collier Uses First Four Minutes of Season-Ending Press Conference to Publicly Call Out Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, Reading Scathing List of Criticisms That Leaves Fans and Media Stunned

Cathy Engelbert Faces Fierce Calls to Resign Live on ESPN After “Weak” WNBA Statement

The WNBA is embroiled in controversy as Commissioner Cathy Engelbert faces mounting pressure to step down, following a scathing public rebuke by Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier. The drama unfolded when Collier used the opening minutes of her end-of-season press conference to deliver a four-minute, pre-written speech that took direct aim at Engelbert’s leadership.

“We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world. But right now, we have the worst leadership in the world,” Collier declared, igniting a firestorm across the league and social media.

Collier’s bold statement quickly drew support from fellow WNBA players and coaches, including Stephanie White and Angel Reese, who echoed her concerns about the league’s direction. The backlash was immediate and intense, with Engelbert’s office issuing a statement saying they “respect the player but disagree with some of her points.”

But the controversy didn’t end there. Media personalities wasted no time weighing in, with Barstool’s Dave Portnoy slamming Engelbert’s response as “astoundingly dumb.” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith took things further on Wednesday morning’s “First Take,” bluntly telling Engelbert, “Let me say for the record: you should resign. When a player — any player, but especially one of that magnitude — attacks you publicly like that, that weak-ass statement is not good enough.”

Reports from Sports Business Journal suggest that Engelbert may already be preparing to exit her role after the league negotiates a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) this fall. The WNBA players, led by Collier in her role as vice president of the players’ association, exercised their option last fall to opt out of the current CBA, setting the stage for high-stakes negotiations.

Engelbert, in her official response, attempted to strike a conciliatory tone:
“I have the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA. Together, we have all worked tirelessly to transform this league. My focus remains on ensuring a bright future for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating on how we continue to elevate the game.”

Yet, Collier’s criticism resonated far beyond her own locker room. “We serve a league that has shown they think championship coaches and Hall of Fame players are dispensable, and that’s fine,” she stated. “It’s professional sports, but I will not stand quietly by and allow different standards to be applied at the league level.”

The public feud has set off a cascade of reactions from around the sports world. Portnoy, never one to mince words, wrote on X: “I continue to be astounded by how dumb Cathy Engelbert and the WNBA are. It’s like her life goal is to alienate Caitlin [Clark] and her fans. Caitlin could start a new league tomorrow and put Cathy out of business. They won’t be happy till they kill the golden goose.”

As the WNBA heads into a pivotal offseason, all eyes are on Engelbert’s next move—and whether the league can navigate its leadership crisis before it threatens the game’s future.