OT: Napheesa has her say on WNBA leadership

[Blakeon18]

Collier blasts WNBA's Engelbert: 'Worst leadership'

Lynx star Napheesa Collier said the WNBA has the "worst leadership" and accused commissioner Cathy Engelbert of being "negligent" in her governance.

www.espn.com

Napheesa in fact has a LOT to say.

 

[Dogdude]

Good for her. The people who actually make the money for the league need to join together with one voice during the CBA negotiations. If the officiating doesn't improve in equally measure to the salaries, sit out the season. I'm sure Unrivaled would be happy to expand and take over their role. Can you imagine what a co-op, player-owned league could look like? I'm all for it. Watching them fumble the Sun negotiations is bad enough, let Lasry and some other hedge fund owners back a real league.

 

[BRS24]

We're also chatting about it here:

S

Post in thread '2025 WNBA Off-Season'

Yesterday at 1:35 PM

I am shocked that Phee was this hostile in her exit interview.

• Stagnant

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[Sifaka]

 

[oldude]

Pheesa is taking a bullet for the players Union. Credit to her for having the courage to take on the leadership of the league.

 

[Sifaka]

Pheesa is taking a bullet for the players union. Credit to her for having the courage to take on the pseudo-leadership of the league.

 

[HuskylnSC]

Lynx are a finesse team in a physical league

 

[rugbymate]

Couldn’t be more proud of a UCONN women’s basketball graduate.

 

[Cuango]

It’s about time one of the biggest stars of the league stood up! Very proud of Phee! The W is truly bad! Officiating, style of play, political agendas, and especially leadership! I only hope she can get some backing from her fellow players!

 

[Huskee11]

Englebert's response was pretty weak-kneed, in sharp contrast to Napheesa's passionate and powerful statement.

So Phee has now painted Engelbert into a corner. She has thrown her under the proverbial bus for all to see and has basically dared Engelbert to fine her.

If Engelbert lets it slide, as I think she will, she will be hard pressed to fine others who will inevitably come out of the woodwork throwing haymakers at her.

If she does impose a fine or other penalty on Phee, she will look very petty and vindictive. No win situation.

Well played, Phee!

 

[oldude]

Englebert's response was pretty weak-kneed, in sharp contrast to Napheesa's passionate and powerful statement.

So Phee has now painted Engelbert into a corner. She has thrown her under the proverbial bus for all to see and has basically dared Engelbert to fine her.

If Engelbert lets it slide, as I think she will, she will be hard pressed to fine others who will inevitably come out of the woodwork throwing haymakers at her.

If she does impose a fine or other penalty on Phee, she will look very petty and vindictive. No win situation.

Well played, Phee!

Beyond whether Engelbert fines Pheesa or not, the heat is also on Engelbert relative to the new CBA, as well as taking steps to deal with the physical play/refereeing in the W.

 

[Dogdude]

So Englebert has a whole bunch o' problems. Coaches are lining up behind Reeves, players and fans behind Phee, the Aces investigation has gone nowhere, and the Sun debacle is making her look bad in the public's eye. Time for her to grow up and realize the problems exist and to just deal with them, instead of weak-speak.

 

[EricLA]

Even before Phee's bombshells, I thought the league was in a weak position.

The huge growth of the league, the amount of new cities fighting and positioning themselves for a team, the viewership, interest, attendance, player endorsements (let's be clear - many of these had NOTHING to do with being in the WNBA - Paige, Cait, Juju, and many others had tons of NIL deals before even getting into the W - yeah I know Juju is not there yet).

This seems to be the best time the players have ever had to band together and push the league for what they want. We heard months ago that the WNBA was trying to eliminate Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited. Shame on Engelbert and the rest of the leaders of the WNBA. I'm not "rooting" for a strike, but if the players don't get everything they want, then screw the W.

Sit out next season and see how the W enjoys that. Expand Unrivaled and AU and let the owners take HUGE losses for no season. The players will be just fine. And I saw on the other board that the "NBA would never allow a competing women's basketball league". OK NBA - then step up and pressure the WNBA to get off their collective asses and do right by the players.

 

[Cornell Lt]

Napheesa Collier doesn't need the WNBA, but the WBNA certainly needs Napheesa Collier. I'll bet that Geno is very proud of Phee was standing up and fighting for what is needed in and around the WNBA

 

[nwhoopfan]

WOW! I have figured for quite a while that the commish is really bad, but this is SO much worse than I thought. She has to GO.

 

[Geesworld]

I'm glad MVPHEE stood up. Not did she only stand up for self, But she stood up for the entire league. If you're a fan the way I am of the Minnesota Lynx you could tell that there was a shift in the officiating of the Minnesota Lynx, the second half of the season. I believe the levy finally broke with Coach Reeves and Phee. Even in defeat their is Grace, Class and Elegance. Power to the UCONN Way.