Whereas Napheesa Collier doubtless didn’t plan to have an exit interview at this stage of the postseason, she definitely was ready for the second when it got here on Tuesday.
Collier opened her availability by studying a ready assertion for practically 5 minutes that was nothing wanting going full scorched earth on the WNBA. She blasted the WNBA’s league workplace and, particularly, commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
Throughout her feedback, Collier revealed a dialog she had with Engelbert at Unmatched earlier this 12 months on the subject of pay for rookies within the league.
“I additionally requested how she deliberate to repair the truth that Caitlin [Clark], Angel [Reese] and Paige [Bueckers], who’re clearly driving huge income for the league, are making so little for his or her first 4 years,” Collier mentioned. “Her response was ‘Caitlin needs to be grateful she makes $16 million off the courtroom as a result of with out the platform the WNBA provides her, she wouldn’t be making something.‘”
Really one of the vital insane responses potential to that query.
It doesn’t take even slightly little bit of crucial pondering to know that Caitlin, in addition to Angel and Paige, have been extraordinarily standard earlier than coming into the WNBA. Whether or not you need to decide it by viewership information or endorsement offers, these gamers didn’t want the “platform” the WNBA offered. They have been raking in enormous quantities of cash in NIL offers whereas nonetheless in school.
And if that wasn’t a wild sufficient anecdote from Collier, the very subsequent sentence offered one other one!
“In that very same dialog, she informed me ‘Gamers needs to be on their knees thanking their fortunate stars for the media rights deal that I received them,’” Collier mentioned. “That’s the mentality driving our league from the highest.”
The league did negotiate a profitable 11-year, $2.2 billion TV deal that was introduced final 12 months, however holding it over the gamers like that is among the extra insane issues I’ve ever heard a commissioner do.
And if that is the place the 2 sides are as CBA negotiations will decide up once more at season’s finish, it’s arduous to think about a state of affairs that doesn’t contain a lockout. And a doubtlessly prolonged one.
Collier serves as one of many vice presidents of the WNBPA, a task that has allowed her to have conversations with the league as they negotiate. Nonetheless, after retaining these conversations out of the general public and attempting to resolve the issues behind closed doorways, Collier reached a breaking level.
“I’ve lastly grown drained,” Collier mentioned. “For too lengthy, I’ve tried to have these conversations in personal however it’s clear there’s no intention of accepting there’s an issue. The league has made it clear it isn’t about innovation, it isn’t about collaboration, it’s about management and energy.”
All this comes as an increasing number of concentrate on the league just isn’t on the on-court product, regardless of being on the eve of the WNBA Finals, however on the officiating.
Collier’s coach, Cheryl Reeve, was handed the largest particular person wonderful in league historical past on Monday after being ejected from Minnesota’s Recreation 3 following Collier’s damage. Reeve had her personal memorable press convention afterward that additionally performed an enormous position within the wonderful.
“The actual menace to our league isn’t cash, it isn’t ranking and even missed calls and even bodily play,” Collier mentioned. “It’s the dearth of accountability from the league workplace. Since I’ve been within the league, you’ve heard the fixed issues about officiating and it has now reached ranges of inconsistency that plague our sport and undermine the integrity during which it operates.
“Whether or not the league cares in regards to the well being of the gamers is one factor. However to additionally not care in regards to the product on the ground is self-sabotage.”
Gamers and coaches have been fined repeatedly this season for criticizing the officers. Collier tried to handle these issues even earlier than the season began and was met with one other practically unbelievable response.
“At Unmatched this previous February, I sat throughout from Cathy and requested how she deliberate to handle the officiating points in our league,” Collier, who based Unmatched with Breanna Stewart, mentioned. “Her response was ‘Effectively, solely losers complain in regards to the refs.’”
Really, it doesn’t really feel like these two sides might be additional aside.
The league is coming into a crucial time in its historical past. This new CBA might function a launching level for the league. The gamers seem to pay attention to the significance of the deal, as evidenced by their shirts previous to the All-Star Recreation.
However Tuesday’s feedback from Collier present how large the chasm is between the gamers and the league.
