The relationship between Napheesa Collier and Cathy Engelbert seems beyond repair. The WNBA commissioner recently claimed that the instances Collier revealed during her emotional exit interview were mostly “inaccurate.” The two were supposed to meet to clear the air, but Collier reportedly canceled after Engelbert’s comments. Now, instead of the community focusing on what should have been its biggest stage — the WNBA Finals — all eyes are on this growing rift. And fans can’t help but wonder: why did Collier choose this moment to speak out? Was it done to provide Unrivaled a benefit?

It’s easy to assume that Phee’s bold comments might have been a strategic move to boost Unrivaled’s standing as a premier basketball league in the country. After all, the league’s valuation recently skyrocketed–growing nearly tenfold to $340 million following its Series B investment round. Some, including analyst Rachel DeMita, have begun speculating that Collier’s involvement in the ongoing CBA negotiations could ultimately benefit Unrivaled even more, especially if the WNBA ends up facing a lockout.

Well, Collier spoke about this during a conversation with former Vice President Kamala Harris at Unreasonable Conversation in LA, which might bust those myths. “I never had planned to do that before. I am on the union for our CBA negotiations, like our collective bargaining negotiations for our league. And so, for so long, I felt like I saw what was going on behind closed doors. For so long, we tried to have these conversations and move the needle in those meetings that we would have with the league, within our leadership. And I saw nothing was changing. Coaches, winning and losing alike, were complaining about the same things over and over again. And we weren’t seeing a change that our leadership was trying to make. And I think I just got to the point where I was fed up.”

Well, Phee probably reached her breaking point during Game 3 of the semifinals. The Lynx were down by four, fighting to keep their season alive, when Collier drove hard to the basket and collided with Alyssa Thomas. She crashed to the floor….but the whistle never came. No foul. No stoppage. Later, the MRI revealed the kind of news no athlete ever wants to hear: three Grade 2 torn ligaments and a torn muscle in her lower leg.

It was back in October last year when the WNBPA voted to opt out of the current CBA, and negotiations with Cathy Engelbert and her team have been ongoing ever since. The players have been firm about what they want — a fairer revenue-sharing model, as they currently receive less than 10% of the league’s Basketball Related Income. They’ve also been pushing for better officiating, but according to Phee, Engelbert dismissed those concerns, saying, “Only the losers complain about the refs.” 

The frustrations of being locked in a negotiation for almost a year with no seeming progress is definitely tiring and you can understand why Napheesa Collier took the step. Now, in her latest press conference, Engelbert vowed to rebuild trust with the players. She also promised the creation of a new multi-stakeholder task force aimed at finally addressing the issues around officiating. But that only happened after Phee took the drastic step.

Her decision still faces plenty of skepticism, with many questioning whether she should even be part of the WNBPA committee.

League sources still unsure of Napheesa Collier’s speech

A new ESPN report on Monday has put the spotlight squarely on Napheesa Collier, revealing league executives’ growing unease about her role in the CBA negotiations. Sources claim that Collier, who last week delivered a four-minute prepared statement calling out Engelbert’s leadership, is using the looming threat of a work stoppage to give a boost to Unrivaled, which some insiders now view as a competitor to the WNBA.

“It’s a total conflict of interest,” one league source told ESPN about Collier’s dual role as WNBPA executive committee member and Unrivaled co-founder. “[Collier’s] husband runs the league that’s in competition with the W, and she has equity in it.”

But time and again, both Collier and Stewart have stressed that Unrivaled was never meant to replace the WNBA. It’s a league that offers better facilities and higher pay for WNBA stars. According to the founders, their goal isn’t to compete with the WNBA but to serve as the premier offseason destination for players who would rather earn more money staying home than playing overseas.

The question is: do you buy their statement, or do you think the whispers about Phee acting with an ulterior motive might hold water? Time will tell, but we’d love to hear what you really think about this whole ordeal.