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Wnba -Commissioner Cathy Engelbert approached a conversation revealed by player Napheesa Collier who alleged that Engelbert said “[Caitlin Clark] Should be grateful that she earns $ 16 million from the field, because without the platform WNBA gives her, she would not earn anything. “
Engelbert said at a press conference Friday that she did not make these comments.
“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.
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks during a news conference before the WNBA All-Star game 19 July 2025 in Indianapolis. (Michael Conroy/AP Photo)
Collier also claimed that Engelbert said, “Players should be on their knees and thank their lucky stars for the Media Law Agreement as I got them.”
Engelbert also approached the alleged comments and claimed that there have been a lot of “inaccuracies” reported in the media, but she did not explicitly make these comments, as she did with the alleged Clark comments.
“There’s a lot of Innacuracy out there through social media and all this reporting,” Engelbert said. “A lot of reporting, a lot of innacuracy about what I say what I didn’t say.”
Lynx’s Napheesa Collier shines against WNBA leadership, calls for officating changes
Indiana Fever Guard Caitlin Clark plays against Dallas Wings in Indianapolis 15 September 2024. (Michael Conroy, File/AP -Photo)
Engelbert said later, “I’m discouraged. I’m also a human being. I have a family. I have two kids ruined by these comments. So all I say is that it’s obviously been a tough week and I just think there’s a lot of innovation out there.”
Still acknowledged Engelbert that if the players do not feel “appreciated”, she should do better.
“I was discouraged at hearing that some players feel the league and that I personally am not interested in them or listen to them,” Engelbert said before Game 1 in the WNBA final on Friday night.
“If the players in ‘W’ do not feel appreciated and value of the league, we need to do better and I have to do better.”
WNBA and its Player Association, WNBPA, are negotiating a new collective negotiation agreement.
Caitlin Clark poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, after she is chosen as the overall overall choice of Indiana Fever in 2024 WNBA Draft at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, Ny, April 15, 2024. (Brad Penner/USA Today Sports)
Players’ Association and WNBA accepted an eight-year deal in 2020, but last year WNBPA voted to opt out of the agreement early.
The current Agreement will expire October 31
