Cathy Engelbert Responds to Criticism and Addresses Key Issues in the WNBA
In a recent press conference, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressed the controversies arising from the statements made by Minnesota Lynx star player Napheesa Collier. Engelbert firmly denied having made comments implying that Caitlin Clark and other prominent players should be “on their knees” in gratitude for the platform the league provides them.
I didn’t make those comments. There’s a lot of inaccuracy on social media and in all these reports. I have a lot of respect for the players. There’s a lot of emotion and passion right now with the collective bargaining. I am obviously heartbroken.
Cathy Engelbert
Collier, in an exit interview, had expressed harsh criticism of the league’s leadership, calling it “the worst in the world.” Engelbert revealed that she has a meeting scheduled with Collier and acknowledged the need to improve relations with the players. “The players are at the center of everything we do,” she stated.
Following Collier’s statements, several players expressed their support and agreed with her criticisms of Engelbert’s leadership.
Faced with the question of whether she expects to continue as a commissioner beyond the current collective bargaining negotiations, Engelbert replied: “I have never given up… I have never shied away from difficult situations.”
Engelbert also mentioned that, if specific problems are identified by the league office and the players want other issues addressed, he will do everything possible to resolve them. However, in a call on Thursday, the players’ association reported that conversations with Engelbert, members of the collective bargaining committee, and the league’s legal counsel have not made progress.
The main topics in these negotiations are salary increases and revenue sharing. Engelbert stated that he shares the goal of significantly increasing players’ salaries and benefits, and that he has presented proposals with significant revenue-sharing components. However, the key lies in achieving a balance that allows players to obtain the desired returns, while incentivizing owners to invest and make profits.
The current collective bargaining agreement expires on October 31, after the players’ union chose not to renew the current agreement last year. Engelbert was hopeful that a new agreement would be reached by then, but also acknowledged that an extension might be necessary.
Engelbert emphasized that the goal of the league and the players is to avoid a lockout next season. However, there are other key events on the WNBA calendar before next spring that cannot take place without a new collective bargaining agreement. For example, there can be no expansion draft, necessary to build the rosters of the upcoming expansion teams, Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, until a new agreement is reached.
“We want to make sure we’re capitalizing on all this momentum we’ve built over the last five years or so, that’s really driving audience and fandom in our game,” Engelbert said.
Engelbert acknowledged that there is still “a long way to go” to reach an agreement, and added: “We will continue negotiating until we have a transformative agreement.”
Other Topics Covered
Engelbert also announced the creation of a “multi-stakeholder working group” to address concerns about league arbitration, which has been a major issue for players and coaches this season.
The goal is for this working group to serve as a “state of the game committee”, where players and other stakeholders are invited to express their concerns to “ensure that the arbitration platform evolves and is in tune with the growth of the league”.
Engelbert stated that a referee’s job is to serve the game and that, to do so at the highest level, requires alignment with stakeholders to perform and be accountable for their performance based on that alignment.
“It’s pretty clear that we are currently not aligned with what our stakeholders want from officiating,” she stated. “Change is needed to serve the WNBA at the level of excellence that is currently not being achieved.”
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve recently called for a change in league-level leadership regarding the referee hiring process, following a play that caused Collier’s injury in the fourth game of the WNBA semifinals. Reeve stated that it was “bad practice” that the three referees of the fourth game were in charge of that match due to the level of physicality they allowed.
Regarding the pending sale of the Connecticut Sun, Engelbert said that the team’s owners, the Mohegan Tribe, “continue to evaluate their strategic options” on whether to continue as majority owners or minority investors, or whether to sell the entire franchise.
In early September, the state of Connecticut submitted a proposal for an offer that would keep the team in the state. Two months earlier, the team’s ownership group presented the WNBA with an agreement that would move the franchise to Boston.
The proposed investment, which would use state-affiliated funds, would involve the Sun selling a minority stake in the franchise at a valuation higher than the WNBA’s current offer of $250 million to buy the team. The league’s offer would allow the franchise to be moved to a market chosen by the league office.
“No decision has been made yet on their perspective of how they are strategically looking at their next steps,” Engelbert said.
