WNBA players leaning into ‘very personal’ Cathy Engelbert battle

PHOENIX — NBA commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this week that the relationship between Cathy Engelbert and WNBA players was fractured because it became “too personal.”

Then Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally made it abundantly clear exactly why that is. 

“It is personal,” she said Tuesday after practice. “It is very personal because the WNBA wants to forbid us to make a lot of more money than we’re ever going to make here, what it seems like in other leagues.”

Silver chimed in earlier this week on the contentious CBA drama overshadowing the WNBA Finals, saying he’s confident a deal will be reached but acknowledged the relationship between Engelbert and players is in dire need of repair. 

“It’s become too personal,” Silver said Monday, “and we’re going to have to work through those issues.”

Silver’s comments come after Napheesa Collier scorched the WNBA office for its lack of accountability and said it’s the “worst leadership in the world.”

During her scathing statement, Collier also pulled the curtain back on a February meeting at Unrivaled, during which Engelbert allegedly made dismissive remarks toward players, including Caitlin Clark.

Engelbert initially released a statement saying she was “disheartened” by the way Collier “characterized” those conversations. 

At a press conference ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals last week, Engelbert flat-out denied that she said Clark should be grateful for what she makes beyond her WNBA salary because “without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.” 

“Obviously, I did not make those comments,” said Engelbert, who called Clark a “transformational player” and “great representative” for women’s basketball. “I’m not going to get into every point, counterpoint. It’s not productive here.”

After Engelbert’s roughly 20-minute press conference, Collier canceled her meeting with the commissioner, according to multiple reports.

Sabally said she was “surprised” Collier did that, but supported the Lynx star.

“Honestly after that press conference, why should Phee take another meeting?” Sabally said. “Cathy said what she said. She’s still sitting on her opinion and yeah, can’t fault that.”

With the Oct. 31 expiration date of the current CBA drawing near, the WNBA and the players association appear to be stuck at an impasse.

This season, there’s been a pingpong battle of words between players and Engelbert, the face of the WNBA stakeholders during negotiations. 

Players have been far more aggressive and open in sharing their wants and needs for a new deal, which includes increased salaries, more roster spots, a robust revenue sharing system and softer salary cap amongst others.

Another point of contention has been the league’s push for more prioritization rules, which could prevent star players from participating in other leagues. 

Sabally, a German native, has been one of the most outspoken players against prioritization. She said there’s “no question” WNBA players should have opportunities to play elsewhere during the offseason. 

She also mentioned several benefits beyond supplementing players’ incomes to this, including allowing players the opportunity to get better during the WNBA’s down time. She cited lack of offseason resources and not necessarily having structured training as reasons why players should be able to play elsewhere.

At the end of the day, though, money is a big reason why Sabally believes players should have a choice to go overseas or play at Unrivaled or Athletes Unlimited during the offseason. 

“It’s very personal,” Sabally said. “People have families, this is our job. We make more money in China, Russia, Turkey than here. So it is very personal. And I don’t [know] why it shouldn’t become personal.”