Angel Reese Among WNBA Stars Supporting Napheesa Collier Slamming Commissioner Cathy Engelbert: '10/10'

WNBA star Napheesa Collier has sent shockwaves through the league today, September 30, after she savagely blasted Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the WNBA's leadership during her post-season press conference.

In her explosive speech, Collier, who was recently sidelined during the WNBA Semifinals after suffering a season-ending injury, made bold allegations about Engelbert while also criticizing the league for its handling of significant concerns.

Collier's message has already received a wave of support from fans and fellow WNBA players, including Indiana Fever star Lexie Hull and Chicago Sky standout Angel Reese.

Just two days after her Minnesota Lynx were eliminated from the playoffs, the 29-year-old All-Star used her post-season press conference to address her biggest issues with the league and its leadership, taking direct aim at Commissioner Engelbert.

"Let me be clear: This conversation is not about winning or losing," Collier began her statement. "It's about something much bigger. The real threat to our league isn't money, it isn't ratings or even missed calls or physical play. It's the lack of accountability from the league office."

Collier went on to address the league's officiating, saying it has "reached levels of inconsistency that plague our sport and undermine the integrity with which it operates."

"Whether the league cares about the health of the players is one thing. But to also not care about the product we put on the floor is truly self-sabotage," she continued.

As she continued, Collier stated that she had a personal conversation with commissioner Engelbert during the first season of Unrivaled, the new 3x3 women's basketball league taking the sports world by storm, about the quality of officiating.

"Her response was, ‘Only the losers complain about the refs,'" Collier said before pointing out the fact that those who do voice their opinions are disciplined with "fines."

"They ignore the issues that everyone inside the game is begging to be fixed," Collier added. "That is negligence."

But that's not all Collier had to say. The Olympian also mentioned private conversations she had with Engelbert, in which she advocated for some of the league's biggest stars, including Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and, of course, Reese, to receive higher salaries during their first four years.

"Her response was, ‘Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything,'" Collier said. “In that same conversation, she told me, 'Players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them.'"

Collier, clearly bothered by some of the behind-the-scenes going on in the league, also revealed that she hadn't heard from commissioner Engelbert following her season-ending injury, which occurred last Friday night.

"Not one call, not one text. Instead, the only outreach has come from her No. 2 telling my agent that she doesn’t believe physical play is contributing to injuries. That is infuriating, and it’s the perfect example of a tone-deaf, dismissive approach that our leaders always seem to take," Collier said.

Shortly after Collier's comments about the WNBA and its leadership went viral, Engelbert, who has been the league's commissioner since 2019, released a statement of her own, offering her "respect" to Collier before issuing a broader message to the rest of the W's athletes.

"I have the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA. Together we have all worked tirelessly to transform this league. My focus remains on ensuring a bright future for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating on how we continue to elevate the game. 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," she said.

Based on the immediate social media reaction, however, it doesn't seem many current WNBA players are buying what she's selling.

Online, several WNBA athletes used their platform to publicly defend Collier and denounce some of the league's practices.

Fever guard Hull said she was in alignment with Collier, adding, "We're at a really important time in the league and changes need to be made."

Hull's head coach, Stephanie White (who was fined by the league earlier this month for speaking in support of Cheryl Reeve, who also voiced frustration with the officiating), echoed that sentiment, saying, "I have a lot of respect for Phee. I'm thankful that we have strong women that are willing to say the things that matter and say the things that will move the needle for change."

And while Reese, one of the league's most prominent names, didn't respond directly to Collier's statements, she shared an interesting post on X, formerly Twitter, writing, "10 [out of] 10. No notes!"