Collier rips Engelbert: WNBA has 'worst leadership in the world'

Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier didn't hold back in her criticism of WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert during her exit interview Tuesday.

The MVP runner-up began her media availability by reading a four-minute statement criticizing multiple aspects of the league and its leadership, including inconsistent officiating.

Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve was suspended for Game 4 of the WNBA semifinals and reportedly received a league-record $15,000 fine for her conduct and postgame comments regarding the officiating in Game 3.

Stephanie White of the Indiana Fever and Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces were also docked $1,000 each for voicing their support of Reeve.

"Our leadership's answer to being held accountable is to suppress everyone's voices by handing out fines," said Collier, per ESPN's Malika Andrews. "I'm not concerned about a fine. I'm concerned about the future of our sport. ...

"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."

Collier says she tore "a couple" of ligaments in her left ankle due to her collision with Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas in the late stages of Game 3, according to The Athletic's Ben Pickman. No call was made on the sequence and Thomas subsequently converted a layup to put the contest out of reach.

Collier says players can't reliably produce a quality product if officials are continually allowed "to lose control of games."

"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," Collier said. "Year after year, the only thing that remains consistent is a lack of accountability from our leaders."

Collier added, "Fans see it every night. Coaches - both winning and losing - point it out every night in pregame and postgame media, yet leadership just issues fines and looks the other way. They ignore the issues that everyone inside the game is begging to be fixed. That is negligence."

Collier, who serves as vice president of the WNBA players' union, revealed that she met with Engelbert at Unrivaled in February to discuss how the commissioner planned to address the league's officiating issues.

The five-time All-Star says Engelbert told her that "'only the losers complain about the refs.'"

Collier said she also asked Engelbert about increasing the value of rookie-scale contracts with the current CBA set to expire in October and the likes of Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers driving so much revenue for the WNBA.

"'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 of Engelbert's response. "And 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.'

"That's the mentality driving our league from the top. We go to battle every day to protect a shield that doesn't value us. The league believes it succeeds despite its players, not because of them."

Clark had no response to Collier's recollection of Engelbert's comments, the Fever told ESPN's Alexa Philippou.

Engelbert responded to Collier in a statement released later Tuesday.

"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," Engelbert said. "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."