As the 2025 WNBA season winds down, there is a high chance players won’t be returning anytime soon. With CBA negotiations stalled, commissioner Cathy Engelbert finds herself at the center of mounting criticism. What began as a pointed critique from Lynx star Napheesa Collier has now grown into a chorus, with nearly half the league echoing similar frustrations. The question remains: is Collier’s assessment truly reflective of the players’ reality?

While no hard evidence has surfaced, a strong voice from the past entered the conversation. Retired legend and three-time MVP Lisa Leslie took Collier’s claims seriously and began her own deep dive into the matter. What she uncovered was striking, and she did not hold back when sharing her findings on the Just Women’s Sports podcast with host Autumn Johnson.

As she puts it, “We saw through social media, but you never really heard the players step up and express that the way that Napheesa Collier just did. I feel that by her calling it to the rug, I started to go: Where did Cathy Engelbert go wrong? So, I Googled her… She used to play a little basketball and was a walk-on. She had some experience, maybe with lacrosse. But she’s really been a Fortune 500 businesswoman who knows how to make money.”

Leslie criticized Engelbert for lacking the people skills necessary to motivate and connect with players, despite her strength in managing corporate relationships. That sentiment found support in Angel McCoughtry’s earlier remarks, which shifted the focus to financial transparency. McCoughtry questioned why Engelbert’s salary remains undisclosed while every player is fighting for their salary. This highlights a sharp contrast between Engelbert’s multimillion-dollar compensation and the modest salaries of many WNBA athletes.

Together, Leslie and McCoughtry’s critiques point to a deeper issue: the commissioner is seen as distant from players’ struggles while benefiting from that very system. This, Leslie feels, draws a sharp contrast with Engelbert’s NBA counterpart. Lisa Leslie contrasted the WNBA commissioner’s leadership with that of NBA commissioner Adam Silver. Leslie praises him as a “phenomenal human being” who builds genuine relationships.

She noted how Silver remembers personal details. The three-time MVP shared how Silver asks about families and kids. This little example shows he values players as people, not just professionals. In contrast, Leslie pointed to Elena Delle Donne’s tweet claiming that she wasn’t even sure Engelbert knew about her retirement, calling it “a huge fail.”

For Leslie, the difference is visible. One values their biggest asset: their players. The other, however, is being more business-minded. As she puts it, “So that’s telling me, unfortunately, that Cathy, yes, has done a really good job of helping raise capital, of helping administer the television deal and all of the things that she’s done, but you’re only able to do that because of those players that are on the floor. But you didn’t close the gap on the relationship between you as the commissioner and the players.” 

Lisa Leslie emphasized that leadership is a two-way street, noting that “the wolf is only as strong as the pack, and the pack is only as strong as the wolf.” She warned that if a leader fails to guide effectively, the very group they lead can ultimately turn against them. That’s exactly what’s happening in the WNBA, with many players speaking out about it.

WNBA players airing grievances against Cathy Engelbert publicly

When push comes to shove, the WNBA players have transformed into fearless beacons. We all know the league loves slapping fines on whoever dares to speak against them. But showing no fear of these petty fines, players are taking a public stand. One of the first to lead the charge was Collier, who started this snowball effect.

Looking at the WNBPA vice president speaking out, others followed suit. Sophie Cunningham laid into Engelbert, stating, “Not really a fan of our leadership. I think they’re failing us as a league, definitely failing us as players… It’s pretty shameful that she always makes it about her, Cathy, when it should have nothing to do with her.”

Joining her in unison was fellow Indy teammate Caitlin Clark. In her comments, Clark said, “We need great leadership in this time across all levels. This is straight up the most important moment in this league’s history, where this league’s been around for 25-plus years, and this is a moment we have to capitalize on. So that’s honestly what I would say. Phee said it all. What she said and the points she made were very valid.”

Along with them, Angel Reese, Nneka Ogwumike, Dearica Hamby, Paige Bueckers, among many others, have spoken out. Looking at half of the WNBA speaking against their commissioner, Stephen A. Smith feels it’s time for the WNBA commissioner to bid farewell. “Cathy Engelbert, the commissioner of the league… let me say for the record: You should resign. You need to resign. Period,” Smith declared.

But only time will tell what happens next.