NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Indiana Fever Star Caitlin Clark underlined the need for “great leadership” in the middle of the controversy that swallowed the WNBA following the alleged remarks made by Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
Meanwhile, her teammate Sophie Cunningham doubled her damnation of Engelbert, saying that the league “fails” to his players.
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)
Both Fever stars approached the situation during their exit interviews on Thursday.
CLICK HERE for more sports cover on Foxnews.com
Clark, who missed the majority of his second campaign due to an injury to the groin and ankle, said that she was not aware of the remarks that Gelbert would have made during a conversation with Minnesota Lynx Star Napheesa Collier And has not spoken to the commissioner since then.
Collier said Tuesday during his exit interview that Gelbert had made condescending comments on the concerns of players, in particular officiant and compensation. Regarding the injuries of players like Clark, Collier said that Gelbert said that “Caitlin should be grateful that it earns $ 16 million on the field, because without the platform that the WNBA gives it, it would do nothing.”
“I have great respect for Phee and I think she has made a lot of very valid points, and I think what people have to understand [is that] We need a big leadership at that time at all levels, “said Clark in response.
Sophie Cunningham (8) and Caitlin Clark (22 years old) of Indiana Fever applaud from the bench against the sky of Chicago to the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, June 7, 2025. (Daniel Bartel / Getty Images)
The fever Sophie Cunningham slams the WNBA commissioner as “ delusional leader ” after claims Caitlin Clark remarks
“It is, straight, the most important moment in the history of this league,” she continued. “This is a moment on which we have to take advantage of.”
Clark was asked what a good leadership looked like, and the former Iowa out of competition said “relationships”, pretending to disconnect the league players and the league players.
“I think for me, and I said this on several occasions, it is about relationships and it is the truth. And I know that it is really difficult to say in professional sports. But that it is a relationship with your front office, whether it is a relationship with the league commissioner, whether it is your relationship with your teammates – it is the most important thing in leadership.”
Cunningham, for its part, spoke more directly about the situation.
“I am just tired of our league. They must intensify and be better. Our leadership from top to bottom must be held responsible. I think there are a lot of people in positions of power in the WNBA, who could be really great business people, but they do not know basketball, and that is the change.”
Sophie Cunningham # 8 of Indiana fever looks during the first half of a match against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on August 05, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Sean M. Haffy / Getty Images)
The first Phoenix Mercury Star, who joined fever during the offseason, focused mainly on the fact of last season.
“The game is not fun to watch because everyone is just trying to kill themselves because that’s how you’re going to survive, otherwise you hurt yourself.”
Cunningham continued by saying that leadership in the Wgb “We fail”.
“Not really a fan of our leadership in the W. I just think they fail us as a league. Definitely failing us as players. Everything Phee said, we all feel that and we are all going to support her, and I think it’s quite strong when he came from her.”
Cunningham pulled another blow on Engelbert when he was asked questions specifically on his alleged remarks on Clark.
“I think it is quite shameful that she always does it about her, Cathy, when it should have nothing to do with her.”
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.
