3 Biggest Takeaways From Napheesa Collier's Nuclear Rant On WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

On Tuesday, Napheesa Collier went nuclear. 

After months of frustration with the WNBA’s leadership, the Minnesota Lynx star used the platform of her exit interview to deliver a powerful message. Collier wasn’t just venting her personal feelings; rather, she was taking a stand for fellow players and even coaches in the league who felt like they weren’t getting a fair shake.

By all indications, Collier’s prepared statement was meticulously crafted: memorable one-liners worthy of social media graphics, multiple WNBA personalities name-dropped, and a couple of stories that were profoundly emotional.

Here are three takeaways from Collier’s epic rant.

After congratulating her playoff opponent, the Phoenix Mercury, for advancing to the WNBA Finals, Collier got down to business.

“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.”

According to Collier, the WNBA’s inability to address inconsistent officiating has hurt the WNBA product and infuriated players and coaches alike. The Lynx forward criticized referees’ inability to maintain control over games, and she called the league “negligent” for failing to resolve this issue.

Collier then took aim at WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert by revealing a private conversation they had in February. The setting of this conversation is interesting, as Engelbert was attending a game staged by Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 league founded by Collier and Breanna Stewart.

Based on Collier’s recollection of the conversation, there were two staggering sound bites coming from Engelbert. First, when Collier asked how the WNBA would be addressing the officiating issue, Engelbert supposedly responded with: “Only the losers complain about the refs.”

Collier added that, at another point in the conversation, she wondered out loud why young stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Buckers were being paid a meager salary in their first four WNBA seasons. Engelbert allegedly countered with: “Caitlin should be grateful that she makes $60 million off the court, because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.”

These quotations will be dissected and unpacked for weeks to come. Notably, the second season of Unrivaled (which has already secured the commitment of Bueckers) is set to tip off in three months’ time.

Towards the end of her exit interview, Collier took on a personal tone. Apparently, she has been waiting for Engelbert to do something in the wake of her multiple injuries this past season.

“This year alone, I’ve gotten calls, texts, and well wishes from so many players across the league,” Collier shared. “Do you know who I haven’t heard from? Cathy. Not one call, not one text.”

Between August and September, Collier suffered two ankle injuries that caused her to miss several games, including the crucial Game 4 matchup in which the Mercury eliminated the Lynx from the playoffs. Watching the Lynx’s season end was no doubt painful, but clearly, Collier was also hurting for an entirely different reason.

Collier wrapped up her rant with one more powerful line. “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.”

On a night when the matchup for the WNBA Finals was set to be decided, Collier made her own headline. Now, it’s up to Engelbert and the WNBA front office to issue a response that goes beyond a written statement.