Napheesa Collier’s exit interview could be the moment we look back in a decade and go, ‘That’s when everything changed.’ While criticizing the refereeing, the CBA situation, and the leadership, Collier revealed a statement from the Commissioner that sent a tsunami across the basketball world. “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,” Engelbert said, according to Collier.

While the rage fills the WNBA fandom with campaigns for Engelbert to leave, Ros Gold-Onwude picks apart the real problem that has plagued the WNBA. “Pattern that I’m seeing, contempt, a pattern of contempt. The alleged comments of the commissioner about Caitlin Clark and other players, and the way that they benefit from the WNBA platform, show me contempt, and that’s not a mindset that values the players as partners in this business. For me, it’s very condescending, and it’s very outdated.” She said on the Good Follow Podcast. 

The lack of solutions from the league and Engelbert, by extension, has been astounding. The refereeing issue has been pointed out by coaches, players, fans, and experts. How does Engelbert view this problem?  ‘Well, only the losers complained about the refs,’ She said, according to Collier. Becky Hammon went on an intense rant about the league’s physicality after winning Game 2 against the Indiana Fever. The league suffered major viewership loss without Caitlin Clark on the floor. The refereeing and physicality had a role to play in her injuries. 

Publicly, the story has been different. “As we go forward on the officiating, we hear the concerns. We take that employee input,” Engelbert had said during the All-Star weekend, “Every play is reviewed. We spend hours and hours and hours. Obviously, we use that then to follow up with officials’ training.” Sounds like corporate boilerplate drowning out reality on the floor, and the constant fines make it clear feedback isn’t being heard.

If Engelbert and the upper management feel like they are doing a favour by giving the players a platform, then there is no responsibility to improve. As Onwude argued, players aren’t treated like partners; they’re treated like second-class citizens in their own league. Now, the players are pushing back, being on the verge of moving away. “Players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them. That’s mentality driving our league from the top … The league believes it succeeds despite its players, not because of them.” Collier revealed the conversation further. 

That’s a line that’s hard to walk back from. To make matters worse, Engelbert’s reply to Collier denied nothing. “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,” Engelbert said. If the players, fans, experts, and former players are on one side and the management on the other, Engelbert really needs to reevaluate her “perspective”, as Collier is not messing around in this coordinated attack. 

Napheesa Collier’s Caitlin Clark Revelation Was A Masterstroke

Collier came to her exit press conference prepared. Almost everything she said was like reading from a note. It was completely planned and likely consulted with her franchise, the WNBPA, and her colleagues. While Caitlin Clark had no comment at the time, she could speak out in support in her exit interview since the season is now over. Collier’s Clark revelation was a strategic move that has united the WNBA fandom in support of Collier. 

Multiple narratives have rolled since Clark’s WNBA debut. Many Caitlin Clark fans and experts claimed she was being targeted by the veterans in the league with physical blows. Others said it was just the nature of the league. There was a distinct wall between the Indiana Fever cum Caitlin Clark fans and the rest of the league. However, Collier has broken through with her statement regarding the star point guard. That has united the league’s followers in support of the players. 

Caitlin Clark has arguably the single biggest fan club in the league. They are very passionate, and this bomb will have a ripple effect. This statement is enough proof for the fans for their ‘Commissioner hates Caitlin Clark’ speculation, and even rival fans are agreeing now. Their rivalry is now on the back burner as the league rallies to oust Cathy Engelbert.