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Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham Add Fuel to WNBA Lockout Momentum
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- Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham Add Fuel to WNBA Lockout Momentum
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
The WNBA seems to be hurdling toward a lockout after the season, and Indiana Fever stars Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham did little to stop that momentum with some new comments on Thursday.
Much of the focus for the WNBA is on the Finals series between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury, set to kick off on Friday. However, a dark cloud is hovering on the horizon, and that is negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement.
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With league ticket sales and ratings up due to the influx of new popular stars like Caitlin Clark , players have a lot more leverage in upcoming discussions. This is why there has been growing speculation that a strike or lockout could be coming this winter. Earlier this week, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier fanned the flames of dark days ahead.
Collier roasts WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert in bold statement
After the Lynx were eliminated by the Mercury this week, star forward Napheesa Collier surprised the media with a pre-written statement. But it wasn't about her team's 3-1 series loss. Instead, she aimed an attack at the leadership skills of WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert and revealed some surprising details about conversations they had previously had.
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"Since I've been in the league, you've heard the constant concerns about officiating, and it has now reached levels of inconsistency that plague our sport and undermine the integrity in which it operates," she said. "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.
"Year after year, the only thing that remains consistent is the lack of accountability from our leaders… What's truly unsustainable is keeping a good product on the floor while allowing officials to lose control of the game," Collier added. "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 also said Englebert claimed Caitlin Clark should be grateful for whatever money she makes off the court because of the platform the league gives her, despite paying her just $78,000 a year.
Caitlin Clark speaks out about Napheesa Collier's Comments
Credit: Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Following their elimination from the postseason, Clark was asked about her thoughts on Collier's bold comments, and she had nothing but support for her fellow WNBA player.
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"We need great leadership at this time across all levels," Clark said on Thursday. "… This is the most important time in this league's history. Phee said it all… I'd say the most important part of leadership, whether in the WNBA, whether in corporate America, comes down to relationships and really caring about the people you surround yourself with."
Her comments certainly suggest there is a serious schism between WNBA players and league executives. This is a big problem weeks before massive CBA negotiations restart. Her Mercury teammate Sophie Cunningham was also asked about the league's leadership in her exit interview and had nothing good to add.
"Not really a fan of our leadership… I think they're failing us as a league, definitely failing us as players," she said.
When questioned about a lockout being likely, Cunningham did not sugarcoat the current divide between the league and players. "That's kinda where it's headed, unfortunately. Which would be the dumbest basketball decision, business-wise, ever, considering the momentum the W has," said Cunningham.
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