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WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has experienced criticism as the league has grown, but NBA commissioner Adam Silver praised how she’s handled the rise in popularity over the last few seasons.
“The WNBA is experiencing some growth pains,” Silver told reporters on Tuesday (h/t The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov). “At the same time, Cathy Engelbert has presided over six years of some of the strongest growth we’ve not only seen in the WNBA but any sports league in history. But it’s become too personal and we’re going to have to work through those issues.”
Silver’s comments come after Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier called out Engelbert and the WNBA’s leadership following her team’s playoff exit. In a lengthy statement during her exit interview, Collier said the WNBA has “the worst leadership in the world” and said players are treated as “dispensable.”
“Our leadership’s answer to being held accountable is to suppress everyone’s voices by handing out fines,” Collier she said. “I’m not concerned about a fine, I’m concerned about the future of our sport. At some point, everyone deserves to hear the truth from someone who I hope has earned the benefit of the doubt to fight for what is right and fair for our athletes and our fans.
“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. If I didn’t know exactly what the job entailed, maybe I wouldn’t feel this way, but unfortunately for them, I do. We serve a league that has shown they think championship coaches and Hall of Fame players are dispensable and that’s fine. It’s professional sports, but I will not stand quietly by and allow different standards to be applied at the league level.”
Engelbert released a response following Collier’s comments.
“My focus remains on ensuring a bright future for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating on how we continue to elevate the game,” the statement read. “I am disheartened by how Napheesa characterized our conversations and league leadership, but even when our perspectives differ, my commitment to the players and to this work will not waver.”
The WNBA has a pivotal offseason ahead with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on Oct. 31.
If a new deal is not reached, the league could be heading towards a lockout, and Indiana Fever veteran Sophie Cunningham said earlier this month that players would not hesitate to sit out if they don’t feel satisfied with whatever changes are made.
“There’s a potential lockout. I promise you we aren’t going to play until they give us what we deserve,” Cunningham said, per ESPN’s Alexa Philippou. “That’s kinda where it’s headed unfortunately, which would be the dumbest basketball decision, business-wise ever, considering the momentum the W has.”
The growth of the WNBA, especially over the past two years, was bound to lead to some “growing pains,” and it’s clear things have reached a boiling point between players and leadership. Engelbert will now get one of her biggest tests as commissioner as she tries to navigate a new CBA.
