NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Indiana fever Caitlin Clark star was trained in the controversy this week after WNBPA vice-president Napheesa Collier said that the commissioner of the League Cathy Engelbert said that the former Iowa star should be “grateful” for the platform that the League offered him during a wage problems.
The allegations prompted Clark’s teammate, Sophie Cunningham, to get back on social networks, calling Engelbert “the most delusional leader” in Wgb history.
In this September 29, 2019, Photo, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks at a press conference before match 1 of the Basketball WNBA finals between Connecticut Sun and Washington mystics. (AP photo / Patrick Semansky, file)
The controversy began this week when, Tuesday, Collier read a statement before media members raising concerns concerning the “lack of responsibility of the League office”. In his remarks, Collier recalled an alleged conversation with Engelbert, in which the commissioner made condescending comments concerning the concerns of the players.
CLICK HERE for more sports cover on Foxnews.com
“I sat in front of Cathy and asked how she planned to solve our league arbitration problems,” said necklace. “His answer was:” Well, only the losers complain about the referees. “”
“I also asked how she planned to repair the fact that Players like Caitlin, Angel [Reese] and Paige [Bueckers]which clearly lead to massive income for the league, do so little during their first four years. Her answer was: “Caitlin should be grateful that she earns $ 16 million on the field, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she would do nothing”.
“And in this same conversation, she said to me:” The players should be on their knees by thanking their lucky stars for the agreement on the rights of the media that I obtained them. “It is the mentality that stimulates our summit league.”
Caitlin Clark poses with the WNBA commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, after being selected as a global choice n ° 1 by Indiana fever during the WNBA 2024 draft at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York, April 15, 2024. (Brad Penner / USA TODAY SPORTS)
Napheesa Lynx Rails necklace against the management of WNBA, calls for officiating changes
Engelbert’s alleged comments prompted Fever Guard Sophie Cunningham, Who also shortened his season due to an injury, to defend his teammate on social networks.
“People only know Cathy because of C…. She is the most delusional leader that our league has seen,” wrote Cunningham in a comment on an article on Instagram.
Clark did not publicly comment on the collar declaration, but during the stars break last season, she and other players wore black t-shirts with a message that said “pay us what you owe us”.
The Indiana Sophie Cunningham (8) fever custody reacts against the Phoenix Mercury in a WNBA match at PHX Arena on August 7, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images)
The message was in favor of the position of the players concerning the remuneration in the negotiations of the current collective negotiation agreement (CBA). The Association of Players and the WNBA agreed with an eight -year agreement in 2020, but last year, the WNBPA voted early to withdraw from the agreement.
The current agreement must expire on October 31.
