LAS VEGAS (AP) \u2014 Minnesota forward Napheesa Collier canceled a meeting with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert expected to take place next week, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly about it.<\/p>\n
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Engelbert said Friday night that she had talked to Collier earlier this week after the Lynx player said the league has \u201cthe worst leadership in the world\u201d and a commissioner who lacks accountability in a blistering assessment<\/a>. The two had planned to meet next week, either in person or virtually.<\/p>\n ESPN first reported the meeting was canceled.<\/p>\n The commissioner said<\/a> before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals that comments made by Collier about a private conversation between them were filled with \u201cinaccuracies,\u201d including one about Caitlin Clark needing the WNBA to succeed financially. The commissioner denied saying that.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cCaitlin has been a transformational player in this league. She\u2019s been a great representative of the game,\u201d Engelbert said. \u201cShe\u2019s brought in tens of millions of new fans to the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Engelbert said Friday there\u2019s work to be done to repair relationships with players in the league.<\/p>\n \u201cI was disheartened to hear that some players feel the league and that I personally do not care about them or listen to them,\u201d Engelbert said ahead of the WNBA Finals. \u201cIf the players in the W don\u2019t feel appreciated and valued by the league, then we have to do better and I have to do better.”<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The league and the players’ union are in the middle of a collective bargaining agreement negotiation<\/a> as the current deal expires at the end of the month.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n