The WNBA and Cathy Engelbert just landed themselves in a whirlwind of trouble. It started with Cheryl Reeve making a public outcry about the officiating in the league. It gained traction quickly, gaining support from other veteran coaches. But the bombshell came from Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier today, where she took public shots at the WNBA commissioner.

But what Collier’s statement has done is mar the future of the WNBA’s new media rights deal. As the Minnesota player said, “She [Cathy] told me players should be on their knees, thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them. That’s the mentality driving my league from the top. We go to battle every day to protect a chief who does not value us.”

With such strong words, the latest media rights agreement of the WNBA with Versant will land in murky waters. In this deal, USA Network got the opportunity to present at least 50 games for the next regular season. Furthermore, in this 11-year deal, USA Network will also present portions of the playoffs and the WNBA finals in select years, starting with the 2026 season, running till 2036.

Talking about this deal, Cathy Engelbert said at that time, “Partnering with Versant and USA Network marks another significant milestone for the WNBA’s continued growth. As demand for women’s basketball continues to rise, partnerships like this expand the visibility and accessibility of our game. By establishing a weekly primetime destination for fans, this agreement will showcase the excitement of the WNBA to more households than ever before and further elevate the incredible athletes in the league.”

But now the continued growth of this deal is in question. The very incredible athletes in the league that the WNBA commissioner is talking about are raising doubts about it. And at the helm of it is the WNBPA vice-president. But Napheesa Collier just did not stop there, as she has more to add on Cathy Engelbert.

While revealing a conversation with the commissioner, Collier said, “I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like Caitlin, Angel, and Paige, who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league, are making so little for the first four years. Her response was. 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.”

Furthermore, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the WNBA commissioner following her injury in Game 3 of the semifinals. In the final moments of the game, Collier and Thomas had a controversial clash, which lit a fire in the WNBA. The Lynx, despite holding the top seed, were knocked out of the postseason. Head coach Cheryl Reeve received a suspension for her critical remarks on officiating standards.

Collier said she was disappointed that she never heard from Engelbert directly after the incident. She explained that the only response came through Engelbert’s deputy, who told her agent that physical play was not a factor in player injuries. According to Collier, that message reflected what she described as a dismissive and tone-deaf attitude from league leadership. The forward stressed that the WNBA must do more to prioritize player safety moving forward.

She argued that sustainability should not just be about business growth. But also about protecting athletes so that fans can consistently watch the best talent on the court. Collier added that she expects disciplinary action for voicing her concerns, acknowledging that fines seem to follow almost any instance of players speaking out. The coaches have already got a hefty fine for it.

Napheesa Collier is on track to get a WNBA fine like her coach

After Napheesa Collier’s statement went public, one of the first to laud it was her coach, Cheryl Reeve. In an X post from Mitchell Hansen, he reported a statement from Reeve, stating, “Phee’s voice is an important one. I’m proud of Phee. … Who Phee has become as a player and person in this league is important.”

On the flip side, Reeve was the first to speak out after Collier’s season-ending injury. “I want to call for a change in leadership at the league level when it comes to officiating. It’s bad for the game,” said Reeve. What Lynx head coach got was a $15,000 fine and a one-game suspension.

However, Reeve was not the only coach to get a fine. Indiana Fever’s Stephanie White and Las Vegas’ Becky Hammon also got a $1,000 slap in the wrist for speaking in favor of Reeve. Now Collier is echoing the same demands. As Collier states, a fine is coming her way. But the question arises on the WNBA as to what extent they will go on slapping fines. If the whole league is speaking over one issue, maybe it is time to look internally.