A league Under Strain: Napheesa Collier, Cathy Engelbert, and teh WNBA‘s Fractured Trust
The WNBA finds itself at a critical juncture, grappling with player discontent and questions surrounding league leadership, especially in the wake of a contentious situation involving Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. the fallout from Collier’s season-ending injury and subsequent interactions with the league has exposed deep fissures in the relationship between the WNBA and its players,raising concerns about Engelbert’s ability to navigate a pivotal moment for the league.
The commissioner role itself is relatively new in the WNBA’s history. As NBA Commissioner Adam Silver explained in 2019, the shift from “president” to “commissioner” was intended to elevate the WNBA’s profile. “He was the one who had the idea to have a commissioner reporting to the board of governors, the owners,” and to signal “to the broadest possible audience that the WNBA is a major league and that she has the same status as the heads of other U.S.-based sports leagues.”
However, recent events suggest that parity in status hasn’t translated to parity in trust. collier’s experience following her injury – and her public recounting of it – has ignited a firestorm. In the hours after her injury, both her agent and Lynx assistant coach Lindsay Bazzell attempted to contact Engelbert, leaving messages that reportedly went unreturned. The only league official to respond was Bethany Donaphin, the WNBA’s head of operations, who reached Collier’s agent.
The situation escalated following the game, resulting in a suspension and fine for Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve for her post-game conduct. Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon and Fever coach Stephanie White were also fined for comments regarding officiating and Reeve’s discipline. The Lynx were subsequently eliminated from the playoffs by the Mercury.
Collier later publicly detailed a February conversation with Engelbert, alleging the commissioner made disparaging remarks about the impact of Caitlin Clark on the league’s popularity. Collier stated Engelbert suggested the league was doing well despite Clark’s arrival, rather than because of it. Engelbert publicly disputed Collier’s account, stating during a news conference, “There’s a lot of inaccuracy out there,” and specifically denying making the attributed comments.
This denial proved to be a breaking point. After initially agreeing to a meeting with Engelbert arranged through a conciliatory voicemail from donaphin, Collier cancelled the meeting on Saturday. A source close to Collier stated that the commissioner’s comments during the news conference “pushed the relationship beyond repair.”
The incident has fueled calls for Engelbert’s resignation, occurring as the league prepares for potentially challenging Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations. Notably, New York liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu previously expressed a stronger rapport with Adam Silver than with Engelbert, stating in an interview with the New York post, “Just knowing players feel comfortable and confident going up to him in the NBA and being able to talk about things like adults and things that are important… And I think that needs to be the same for us as well.”
As the WNBA navigates this crisis, Engelbert faces the daunting task of rebuilding trust with players and stabilizing a league seemingly teetering on the brink of deeper division. For now, the responsibility to mend the fractured relationship rests squarely on her shoulders.
