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WNBA faces growing calls to fire commissioner Cathy Engelbert. How did we get here?
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- WNBA faces growing calls to fire commissioner Cathy Engelbert. How did we get here?
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert is facing mounting pressure as the deadline for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement approaches Oct. 31.
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier shed light on her frustrations with "the worst leadership in the world," at a news conference Tuesday. Hours later, Sports Business Journal reported Engelbert could exit as commissioner after CBA negotiations wrap up. The WNBA called the report "categorically false."
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The league has seen immense growth under Engelbert -- with record ratings and attendance this season, expansion from 12 to 18 teams by 2030 and a media rights deal worth $200 million a season beginning next year -- but concerns about her leadership have grown. This comes after intense criticism of the league from players and fans on a broad range of topics, including issues with racism, officiating and player safety, pay disputes and comparisons to Unrivaled, the lauded 3-on-3 league launched by Collier and Breanna Stewart .
"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 said. "The real threat to our league isn't money, it isn't ratings or even missed calls or even physical play. It's the lack of accountability from the league office."
Engelbert released a statement saying: "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."
Fans flooded social media with calls for Engelbert, who was named the league's first commissioner in 2019, to be fired. Here are some key moments that led to this point.
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Cathy Engelbert downplayed hate speech
The WNBA players union and several players called out Engelbert for not taking a stronger stand against hate speech in September 2024. Players faced heightened racist and misogynistic comments, especially on social media, last season. The arrival of rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese seemed to be a catalyst for those long-held racial tensions, with fans and commenters taking sides.
During an interview on CNBC, Engelbert was asked by host Tyler Mathisen about the "darker ... more menacing" tone of the social media discussion. Engelbert focused more on the additional visibility the two rookies gave the WNBA.
"The one thing I know about sports, you need rivalry," Engelbert said. "That's what makes people watch. They want to watch games of consequence between rivals. They don't want everybody being nice to one another."
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Later, Engelbert clarified her comments in a social media post. "To be clear, there is absolutely no place for hate or racism of any kind in the WNBA or anywhere else," she posted on X .
Pay Us What you Owe Us T-shirts
The WNBA met with more than 40 players to discuss the CBA before All-Star weekend in July. The WNBA players association issued a critical statement after the meeting concluded.
With the current CBA set to expire in October, WNBA players wore "Pay Us What You Owe Us" shirts during All-Star Game warmups to send a message to the league about improving the WNBA pay scale.
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"That's something we wanted to make well known. In the bubble, we always knew how to make a stand with some T-shirts, so we did that today," WPNBA president Nneka Ogwumike said. "We look forward to negotiating our fair share and our value."
Fans let the league know whose side they were on during the postgame ceremony, where loud chats of "Pay them!" broke out as league commissioner Cathy Engelbert presented All-Star Game awards.
Fines during the 2025 season
Officiating has been a big deal this season. Players, fans and coaches have spoken out about safety issues they attribute to poor officiating, and have criticized Engelbert and the WNBA for not taking action and for the increased fines issued to those who publicly criticize the league's officials.
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Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was fined $15,000 for a profanity-laced tirade against the referees after Collier was injured in Game 3 of her team's semifinal series against the Phoenix Mercury . Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White and Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon came to Reeve's defense and were also fined $1,000 each.
Unrivaled 3-on-3 league grows
Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women's basketball league, co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart will start its second season Jan. 5th. The league was recently valued at $340 million. It will increase in size from six to eight teams and add a practice pool. That will increase the number of roster spots from 36 to 54, the league announced Sept. 10. The two new teams will be called Breeze BC and Hive BC.
Unrivaled players earned an average of $222,222 — compared to the WNBA average $130,000 — and received equity in the league. Salaries will be in the same range for 2025 by only select athletes will receive equity, decided on a case-by-case basis as contracts are negotiated. Unrivaled plays an an eight-week season from January to March in Miami.
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The Caitlin Clark effect
Managing Clark's stardom has always been a point of contention for Engelbert. Clark loyalists accuse Engelbert of mismanaging the spotlight Clark brings to the league, refusing to credit the phenom for any of the league's skyrocketing growth or new audience.
Collier shared a conversation she had with Engelbert in February that touched on that very topic.
"I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like Caitlin (Clark), Angel (Reese) and Paige (Bueckers), who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league, are making so little for their first four years. Her response was, 'Caitlin (Clark) should be grateful to make $16 million off the court, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn't make anything.'"
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cathy Engelbert under fire after Napheesa Collier WNBA exit interview
