Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier made waves earlier this week when she went after WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
Collier also shared an alleged conversation she had with commissioner Engelbert from back in February where the WNBA commish had some insulting remarks about Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.
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After initially having no comment on Collier’s statement from earlier this week, Clark threw her support behind Collier during her Thursday Fever exit interview.
“First of all, I have great respect for ‘Phee, and I think she made a lot of very valid points,” Clark said. “I think what people need to understand, we need great leadership in this time across all levels. This is straight up the most important moment in this league’s history. This league’s been around for 25-plus years, and this is a moment we have to capitalize on, so that’s honestly what I would say.
“‘Phee said it all with what she said. I think the points she made were very valid.”
Per Collier’s statement earlier this week, commissioner Engelbert indicated that Clark could thank the WNBA for providing the platform that led to Clark’s endorsement opportunities.
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“This past February, I sat across from (Engelbert) and asked how she planned to address the officiating issues in our league,” Collier said. “Her response was, ‘Well, only the losers complain about the refs.’ I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like (Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers), who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league and are making so little for their first four years.
“Her response was, ‘(Clark) should be grateful. She makes $16 million off the court because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.’ And in that same conversation, she told me, ‘Players should be on their knees, thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them.'”
Clark said she had not heard of Engelbert’s remarks before Tuesday and that the commissioner has not yet reached out since the remarks surfaced.
Collier slammed commissioner Engelbert on Tuesday in her own exit interview with the Minnesota Lynx.
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“We have the best players in the world, we have the best fans in the world, but right now we have the worst leadership in the world,” Collier said in a prepared statement on Tuesday. “The real threat to our league isn’t money, it isn’t ratings or even missed calls or even physical play. It’s the lack of accountability from the league office.”
Collier is vice president of the WNBA Players Association and also one of the co-founders of Unrivaled, another professional women’s basketball league.
Fans and players have already been worried about a potential work stoppage, but, with these shocking comments surfacing from the WNBA commissioner, those lockout fears have only been amplified.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Fever star Caitlin Clark throws support behind Napheesa Collier
