Summit Discusses WNBA Leadership and Player Concerns
This week, former Vice President Kamala Harris welcomed WNBA player Nafeesa Collier at the Day of Irrational Conversations summit, where Collier spoke about a recent controversial exchange with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
Collier alleged that Engelbert made remarks in a private conversation about Caitlin Clark, stating something to the effect of, “We should be grateful that she’s making $16 million off the court, because without the WNBA platform, she wouldn’t have earned that.” He further added, “The players should be on their knees and thank their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got.”
Collier explained his reasoning for going public with these comments, especially as the WNBA Players Association is in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. “I felt like I had to do it no matter the outcome,” he expressed.
He went on to mention his involvement in past CBA negotiations, noting a sense of frustration as it felt like they were merely having internal discussions with little actual change occurring. “For a long time, we’ve been trying to change things, but nothing shifted. Coaches and players keep bringing up the same issues, yet the necessary changes aren’t materializing.”
His statement reflected a level of exasperation. “I was just fed up with it. I knew there would be consequences, but I felt like what I was doing was right. It had to be said,” he remarked.
Engelbert later commented on the situation during a recent press event, addressing that he had no specific comment on Clark’s situation. “I didn’t make those comments. Kaitlyn has been an influential figure in this league,” he stated.
While acknowledging the media reports, Engelbert didn’t directly refute the allegations made against him. “There’s a lot of inaccurate information circulating,” he noted, describing the past week as challenging for him, particularly for his family.
He mentioned, “If our players do not feel valued, then we need to put in more effort to change that perception.” Engelbert’s sentiment was clear: he recognizes the need for improvement in how the league communicates with its players.
The WNBA players’ association and the league had previously established an eight-year agreement in 2020 but voted to exit early last year. The current contract is set to expire on October 31st.
