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Cathy Engelbert did not receive a hot welcome in Phoenix on Friday night.
The WNBA Commissioner hit the court to deliver the final trophy to the Las Vegas Esss, but she was immediately met with Boos.
A participant in the crowd was even spotted giving the middle finger, while Engelbert spoke to congratulate the aces.
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WNBA commissioner Catherine Engelbert speaks to the crowd after Las Vegas ACES WIN GAME FOUR OF 2025 WNBA PLAYOFFS FINALS ON MORTGAGAGAGAG CENTER ON October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. Las Vegas Acer defeats Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the championship. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
“Well, we’re here today to celebrate a master. Thanks to all fans. Phoenix had a good run to get hit and I just want to congratulate ACES with a performance, 2025 WNBA Champions,” Engelbert said in the middle of continuous boos.
The aces, despite having completed the sweeping of their third title of four years, seemed visibly uncomfortable, and the final MVP A’Ja Wilson showed a look of concern.
Engelbert has recently received a wealth of setbacks, as the Commissioner allegedly has dismissive and condescending remarks about the player’s concerns. Napheesa Collier also claimed that Engelbert said that Caitlin Clark “should be grateful that she earns $ 16 million from the field, because without the platform that WNBA gives her, she would not earn anything.”
Collier also claimed that Engelbert told her, “Players should be on their knees and thank their lucky stars for the Media Law Agreement as I got them.”
“When you have good players, treat them like that, and it’s top to the bottom,” said ACES POINT GUARD CHELSEA GRAY after the match.
Cathy Engelbert, WNBA Commissioner, hand over the most valuable player award to A’Ja Wilson from Las Vegas Aces after winning Game 4 in 2025 NBA Finals on Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
WNBA needs Caitlin Clark more than she needs the league, says long -standing sportscaster Dan Patrick
Wilson shared her dissatisfaction with Engelbert earlier this month and said she was “disgusted” with Engelbert’s comments. Wilson played a tambourine to celebrate Gray’s comments Friday.
While approaching the alleged comments about Clark, Engelbert refused to do them.
“Obviously, I did not make these comments. Caitlin has been a transformation player in this league. She has been a great representative of the game. She has brought tens of thousands of millions new fans to the game,” Engelbert said at a news conference last week.
Clark said the league is in a “moment we have to take advantage of.”
“I think for me, and I’ve said it many times it’s about relationships, and that’s the truth,” Clark said last week. “And I know it’s really hard to say in professional sports. But whether it’s a relationship with your front office, whether it’s a relationship with the commissioner of the league, whether it’s your relationship with your teammates – that’s the most important thing in leadership.”
Caitlin Clark poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, after she is selected as the No. 1 total election of Indiana Fever in 2024 WNBA Draft at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York, April 15, 2024. (Brad Penner/USA Today Sports)
WNBA’s current collective negotiation agreement ends on October 31st.
