How has Cathy Engelbert become so controversial?

What you probably already know: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is under intense scrutiny as the league heads into its finals, shifting attention away from the series and toward the commissioner’s office. Minnesota star Napheesa Collier — a co-founder of Unrivaled, the women’s professional 3-on-3 league preparing for its second season — issued a blistering statement this week criticizing both the league and Engelbert for what she described as a “lack of accountability.” Collier referenced a private conversation from February in which she challenged Engelbert about the low salaries of prominent players such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers despite their contributions to generating significant revenue. According to Collier, Engelbert responded by saying, “Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t be making anything.”

Why it matters: Engelbert has served as WNBA commissioner since 2019 following a four-year tenure as Deloitte’s first woman CEO, where she was lauded for her leadership. However, both fans and players have criticized her for stalled collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the WNBA Players Association, her silence on season-long refereeing controversies and the slate of injuries resulting from rough play. The timing is critical for the league, as players have increasingly advocated for higher salaries, notably wearing T-shirts that read “Pay Us What You Owe Us” during All-Star weekend to demand a fair share of league revenue. With the collective bargaining agreement set to expire in October, the possibility of a strike looms. The average WNBA player salary is about $100,000 per year.

What it means: In her statement delivered Tuesday, two days after the Lynx’s elimination in the conference semifinals, Collier — regarded as one of the league’s top players who also serves as vice president of the players’ union — claimed Engelbert told her, “Only the losers complain about the refs.” Collier also quoted Engelbert as saying, “Players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media deal I got them,” referencing the league’s 11-year, $2.2 billion deal, which amounts to approximately $200 million annually. In response, Engelbert expressed that she was “disheartened” by Collier’s depiction of their conversation but emphasized her “utmost respect” for Collier and all WNBA players.

What happens now? Following Collier’s remarks, several WNBA players and some coaches voiced their agreement and support. Collier further criticized league leadership as “tone deaf” and “dismissive,” claiming the WNBA has the “worst leadership in the world.” Moving forward, the league faces pressing issues regarding player safety, the physicality of play, the training of officials and overall leadership and governance. The controversy has dealt a blow to the WNBA’s reputation at a time when the league’s popularity continues to rise, distracting from what should be a competitive finals. It will certainly make collective-bargaining negotiations even more contentious than they already are.