Nafisa Collier from the Minnesota Lynx was scheduled to meet with WNBA commissioner Kathy Engelbert this week to mend their strained relationship. However, that meeting is no longer happening. Collier shared her reasons with Axios on Monday night.
The situation escalated when Collier made headlines last week, criticizing the league’s leadership and labeling it as “the worst leadership in the world.” She also expressed disappointment that Engelbert hadn’t reached out to her following her injury.
Collier highlighted some comments from Engelbert that were made during a previous meeting in February, which have now raised eyebrows.
- ‘[Clark] Without the platform the WNBA gives her, she won’t make anything, so we need to be grateful that she’s making $16 million from the court.
- “Players are on their knees and thank the stars for the lucky media rights deal I have got them.”
Sources indicate that Collier had shared Engelbert’s comments soon after that February meeting.
Nevertheless, Engelbert publicly denied making those statements during a press conference on Friday.
“Obviously, I didn’t make those comments,” she stated. “There’s a lot of misinformation circulating, particularly on social media.”
Collier wasn’t pleased with Engelbert’s denial, saying, “I think she illustrated my point perfectly in her statement.”
“She opens by expressing her respect for me and the players, then contradicts herself… I feel she’s avoiding accountability, so there’s little more to discuss.”
What prompted Collier to go public with her thoughts?
She discussed her reasoning during a panel with Kamala Harris, as reported by Axios journalist Maxwell Millington. “We had been trying to address these issues in league meetings for quite some time,” Collier explained. The repetitive concerns raised by coaches and players hadn’t led to any real change. She felt compelled to speak out, believing it was necessary.
WNBA players and the future of leadership
Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner who appointed Engelbert, remarked on Monday that he believes there’s still a chance to mend the relationship between her and Collier.
“Kathy Engelbert is focused on the historic growth of the league, but it’s clear there are challenges that need attention—both economic and relational with the players,” Silver noted. “We are optimistic about resolving these issues over time. This league can definitely continue on its positive trajectory.”
With a new collective bargaining agreement due by October 31st, tension is rising—leading to the possibility of a lockout.
“I think there’s a lot of momentum right now,” Collier added. “We’re advocating as strongly as we can to secure the best deal possible.”
