It all started with Game 3 of the Lynx’s semifinals series. Napheesa Collier went down with an ankle injury after a collision and a missed call late in the game, while head coach Cheryl Reeve exploded at the referees. Reeve had to be pulled away by staff and was ejected with just 21 seconds left, and her profanity-laced press conference later got her suspended for Game 4. With Collier and their coach out, the Lynx couldn’t bounce back, and their season came to an end. But Collier wasn’t about to let things slide.

During her end-of-season exit interview, Napheesa Collier came prepared with a draft directly aimed at WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and league leadership for what she called “a lack of accountability from the league office,” labeling it straight-up negligence. She condemned years of inconsistent officiating, saying, “Whether the league cares about the health of the players is one thing, but to also not care about the product on the floor is truly self-sabotage.”

Collier didn’t stop at the season’s struggles but also addressed the league’s bigger problems. She pointed out how young stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers are pulling in record attention but still making shockingly little money compared to the value they bring. She even recalled a February conversation with Engelbert, who brushed off complaints, saying that players should just be grateful for the media rights deal, as if that alone was enough. On top of that, Collier said Engelbert told her, “Only the losers complain about the refs.”

For Collier, those answers cut at the heart of the league’s growth. In her eyes, WNBA players are giving everything on the court, but the leadership guiding them is giving the bare minimum back.

Her statements couldn’t have come at a more crucial time, with the current CBA agreement set to expire on October 31. Collier and her colleagues are pushing for a greater share of the league’s profits and revenue. That demand was made loud and clear back in July, when players showed up at All-Star weekend wearing “pay us what you owe us” t-shirts. The WNBPA also backed Collier, emphasizing that league leaders should pay attention to the players’ concerns and truly understand their perspective.

 WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert responded to Collier’s criticism, saying she’s “disheartened.” In a statement released on September 30, Engelbert said, “I have the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA. Together we have all worked tirelessly to transform this league. 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.”

But fans made sure the league also knows where their loyalty stands. 

Fans react to Collier vs. Cathy, calling for a leadership shake-up

One of the many fans chimed in on social media, saying, “@CathyEngelbert with her tone deaf actions releasing a tone deaf response is 🤌🏼.” The main issue for both fans and players is that Cathy didn’t directly deny or address any of the accusations Collier raised. Nothing in her statement touched the specific concerns, which, to many, feels like negligence and a refusal to acknowledge the problems.

Besides fans, though, there is support for Collier from almost all the players as well. A’ja Wilson, in her post-game press conference, said she will bring up these concerns in the next CBA meetings and stand right alongside Collier in pushing for change.

Another fan slammed Engelbert, tweeting, “@CathyEngelbert has dismissed officiating concerns. When leaders do this, they leave the rest of us to conclude they are either incompetent, ignorant, or corrupt. And the people that bear the brunt are the players that are needlessly hurt. @WNBAPA.”

Much of the players’ frustration has been directed at Cathy, especially after September 2024, when the WNBPA and several players called her out for not taking a stronger stand against racism and hate speech. The backlash only grew online during the controversy involving Clark and Angel Reese after Cathy’s remarks about the “need for rivalries.”

Another fan tweeted, “Imagine thinking you made Caitlin Clark when she was a household name in the sporting world 3 years before she joined your league.” Their point hits hard—Collier highlighted that Engelbert seemed to suggest Clark benefited the most from joining the WNBA, when in reality, it’s the opposite. Clark was already a star at Iowa, signing big deals with Nike, Gatorade, State Farm, and Panini, earning about $3.1 million, the fourth highest among all NIL athletes in 2024. So when Engelbert claimed the league made her famous, fans weren’t having it. They called her out, saying it was ridiculous to ignore Clark’s success before the WNBA. 

One fan didn’t hold back, tweeting, “Angel Reese was getting death threats, no one heard from Kathy. When she finally came out and talked about it, she said ‘the rivalry was good for the league’!!! A player getting death threats was good for the league!! But see her here right after Phee’s comments!!!!! Hmmm”. Several fans were angered that Cathy never addressed Reese’s struggles, especially after the 97-84 Elite Eight loss when Reese tearfully shared how she’d faced death threats, harassment, and racial attacks. The league simply ‘condemned’ the racial attacks through an online statement earlier this year, but Cathy’s silence on the issue let fans assume a clear lack of responsibility on her part.

Some fans are even calling for a change at the top, with one tweeting, “Many fans, myself included, are losing confidence in the commissioner’s ability to grow the WNBA effectively. It may be time for a change in leadership.” Some reports say Cathy Engelbert could step down as WNBA commissioner after the current CBA talks, with pressure coming from both the NBA and WNBA sides. But the league quickly shot that down, calling the rumors “categorically false,” and Engelbert hasn’t said anything herself. With fans also calling for change, it’s now a wait-and-watch situation for what happens next.