WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert faced the media in a pre-Finals press conference on Friday, addressing last week's viral leadership take-down by Minnesota star Napheesa Collier — and calling out some of the Lynx forward's more controversial claims.
Engelbert said Collier's account of their past conversations "had a lot of inaccuracies," with the commissioner specifically denying that she said rookie stars like Caitlin Clark "should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars" for the exposure the WNBA provides.
"Obviously, I did not make those comments," Engelbert said. "There is a lot of inaccuracy out there through social media and all of this reporting."
With more players speaking out and CBA negotiations heating up, Engelbert took some responsibility for the state of the league — one Collier said has "the worst leadership in the world."
"I was disheartened to hear that some players feel the league — and me, personally — don't care about them or listen to them," she said. "If the players in the W don't feel appreciated and valued by the league, then we have to do better, and I have to do better."
Engelbert also told reporters she set up a meeting with Collier for this week, though ESPN later reported that Collier canceled the meeting after hearing the commissioner's Friday remarks.
Despite growing unrest throughout the WNBA, Engelbert also denied the recent rumors she'd be resigning from her post as commissioner anytime soon.
"I've never been a quitter," she stated.
Caitlin Clark is standing with Napheesa Collier, with the Indiana Fever star backing up the Minnesota Lynx forward's WNBA leadership concerns during her Thursday exit interview.
"I think what people need to understand, we need great leadership at this time across all levels — this is straight-up the most important moment in this league's history," Clark said in her first media availability since July.
"I have a lot of respect for Phee, and I think she made a lot of very valid points," she added.
Comments from WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert about Clark have come under fire this week, after Collier reported that Engelbert responded to a question about the WNBA's low rookie salaries by saying Clark and her fellow rookies "should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars" for the media exposure the league provided.
The Indiana guard said she wasn't aware of Engelbert's comments, nor had the commissioner reached out since Collier's exit interview went viral.
"I'd say the most important part of leadership, whether that's the WNBA, whether that's corporate America, I think it comes down to relationships and really caring about the people you surround yourself with," Clark said.
With a new CBA on the line and little response from leadership, more and more WNBA players are speaking out — fueling tensions on both sides of the negotiating table.