{"id":190499,"date":"2025-10-05T01:21:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-05T01:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/190499\/"},"modified":"2025-10-05T01:21:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-05T01:21:07","slug":"the-brutal-fallout-between-napheesa-collier-cathy-engelbert-has-already-started","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/190499\/","title":{"rendered":"The Brutal Fallout Between Napheesa Collier, Cathy Engelbert Has Already Started"},"content":{"rendered":"

The deteriorating relationship between WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and Minnesota Lynx superstar Naphessa Collier<\/a> has taken another concerning turn just weeks before the league’s collective bargaining agreement expires.<\/p>\n

The back-and-forth began Tuesday when Collier delivered one of the most direct attacks on a league and its commissioner in sports history during her season-ending exit interview. She declared that the WNBA has \u201cthe worst leadership in the world\u201d and accused league officials of batting an eye at officiating issues. <\/p>\n

Napheesa Collier\u2019s full statement today, where she challenged Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the WNBA with directness and stunning detail we rarely hear from active players. Worth listening to every word. pic.twitter.com\/IRTvTc52EA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) September 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Players across the league quickly rallied behind Collier, and the players’ union even issued a statement supporting the Lynx superstar, saying her words \u201cspeak to the feelings and experiences of many, if not most or all of our members.\u201d<\/p>\n

Napheesa Collier has cancelled her scheduled meeting<\/a> with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert next week, according to ESPN. The decision marks a significant rise in tensions between players and league leadership at the worst possible time for negotiations.<\/p>\n

The meeting cancellation stems from Engelbert’s press conference<\/a> on Friday, where she strongly refuted Collier’s account of a private conversation between the two in February. <\/p>\n

Collier had said that Engelbert told her that Caitlin Clark and other stars across the WNBA \u201cshould be on their knees\u201d in thanks for the platform that the WNBA provides. <\/p>\n

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert denied the comments #NapheesaCollier<\/a> claimed in her team exit press conference: \u201cObviously, I did not make those comments\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n

(Q: @AnnieCostabile<\/a> ) pic.twitter.com\/qVDQbIfgSX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Nick Hamilton (@NickHamilton213) October 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Engelbert of course, denied those comments, saying that they were filled with “inaccuracies.”<\/p>\n

ESPN also reported that Engelbert’s comments at her press conference have \u201cpretty much pushed the relationship beyond repair.\u201d<\/p>\n

Collier serves as the vice president of the players’ union and will be directly involved in the CBA negotiations after the season, so the fallout could not have come at a worse time for both parties.<\/p>\n

The negotiations are at risk of being completely derailed due to the complete breakdown of trust between the commissioner and the most significant union leader, as the CBA is set to expire on October 31. What might have been resolved through basic dialogue will now have to be done through official negotiations.<\/p>\n

“I was honestly disgusted by the comments that Cathy [Engelbert] made, but at the same time, I’m very appreciative that we have people like [Napheesa Collier] in our committee of our players’ association, representing us.”<\/p>\n

– A’ja Wilsonpic.twitter.com\/vcz83K3RPm<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/v3j9ltlQBv<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Engelbert did say Friday she has work to do rebuilding the trust of the players but expressed confidence that she could get it done.<\/p>\n

The meeting being canceled makes it look like the next steps may be much harder to take than she thought.<\/p>\n

As the due date gets closer, the WNBA is dealing with not only contract talks but also a major leadership crisis at a time when the league is at its most popular.<\/p>\n

Napheesa Collier Goes Scorched Earth on WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert<\/a><\/p>\n

WNBA Fans Bash Cathy Engelbert After Denial of Napheesa Collier Claims<\/a><\/p>\n

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert Responds to Napheesa Collier’s Message<\/a><\/p>\n