Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Labor champion Napheesa Collier epically rips WNBA leadership

Napheesa Collier threw a grenade in Cathy Engelbert’s lap, undercutting her in such epic fashion that it left her scrambling for a weak response that doesn’t deny the harshest claims.

Collier accused Engelbert of 1. saying Caitlin Clark, of all people, should be “grateful” to the WNBA for her riches. 2. Alleged she said the ladies should be submitting on their knees because of the media rights deal Engelbert got them. And 3. Said the commish said that players who complain about refereeing are losers.

If all of this is true, Engelbert is miserably cosplaying David Stern, and it should mortify league partners. Examine her statement below:

“I have the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA.

Together we have all worked tirelessly to transform this league. My focus remains on ensuring a bright future for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating on how we continue to elevate the game. I am disheartened by how Napheesa characterized our conversations and league leadership, but even when our perspectives differ, my commitment to the players and to this work will not waver.”

Collier said she anticipates a fine but might get suspended like her coach, Cheryl Reeve, did for going hard at the league. But her being one of the founding members of Unrivaled, the women’s professional three-versus-three league, headquartered in Miami, is a bigger threat to the W by the day. 

Recent fines to coaches Becky Hammon (Aces) and Stephanie White (Fever) for saying Reeve wasn’t lying and supporting her call for a change of leadership “at the league level when it comes to officiating” have added more gasoline to the standoff coming up at the upcoming CBA meetings. Goodness willing someone wears a wire and it leaks. 

And aside from Clark not needing the WNBA because she became one of the biggest stars on the planet at Iowa, and could’ve gone to wherever if she wanted to and the league would be SOL, Engelbert should crack down on the poor officiating and physical play that’s going to get players hurt. 

Anyone with eyes and critical thinking skills can tell the refs are some of the worst in pro sports, based on how long they take to review consequential possessions on a challenge or foul, or when they don’t have the nerve to throw someone out for excessive force. Engelbert thinks she’s gonna grow the league mimicking the ‘80s NBA model to the bone, but it’s a lousy idea aside from putting the stars on TV more. She already did the black-and-white comparisons with Clark, the white woman and Angel Reese, the black woman, but letting prison ball continue in the WNBA cheapens the game; don’t be surprised when a player tries to enact justice themselves. 

Never forget that Alyssa Thomas was not suspended for violently dropping Reese or that Diana Taurasi wasn’t either for taking out Cheyenne Parker-Tyus late in a game, both happening in 2024. DiJonai Carrington pulled rookie Sarah Ashlee Barker by her hair down this year, and she wasn’t suspended either. It means nothing when the league says, “All games are reviewed,” when they fail as oversight.

UCONN women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma lambasted the WNBA on Friday. Unfortunately for the league, they can’t sanction him for saying, “On a daily basis, I think the WNBA game is not conducive to like great basketball. You can spin it any way you want. There’s more viewers, there’s more that. That’s great, that doesn’t mean it’s a better game just because more people are watching…”

Fever switchblade Lexie Hull agreed with everything Collier said publicly. Clark missed an opportunity to use her status to pressure the league and gave a no comment, which ESPN’s Alexa Philippou first reported. 

Liberty guard Natasha Cloud tweeted that the players are behind Collier. 

Collier’s comments instantly became the biggest story in professional basketball. We are all about to find out if Engelbert is ready to deal with the heat that comes with it.