Caitlin Clark addresses Napheesa Collier calling out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert: 'This is a moment we have to capitalize on'

On Wednesday, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier sent shockwaves through the sports world when she publicly criticized WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. In her prepared statement, Collier specifically shared a story of Engelbert shutting down the idea of young stars, such as Caitlin Clark, receiving more money than what WNBA players traditionally make from their rookie contracts.

“I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like Caitlin, Angel [Reese], and Paige [Bueckers], who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league, are making so little for their first four years,” Collier said. “Her response was Caitlin should be grateful she makes $60 million off the court because, without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything. And, in that conversation, she told me players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them.”

Clark’s salary this season from the WNBA was just over $78,000. While Clark initially had no comment on the story involving her, she addressed the issue on Thursday during the end-of-season exit interview.

“First of all, I have great respect for Phee, and I think she might have made a lot of very valid points,” Clark said. “More 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+ 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 and the points she made were very valid.”

Clark has been largely responsible for the WNBA’s massive increase in popularity over the past two years. In 2024 — Clark’s rookie season — the WNBA had an average of 1.19 million viewers across ESPN platforms, a 170% increase from the 2023 season.

Additionally, the league recorded its seven most-watched games ever on ESPN and its two most-watched games ever on ABC, both of which included Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever. The WNBA’s viewership continued to climb this season, improving by another 6% from 2024.

On Tuesday, the league announced it’d struck an 11-year deal for USA Network to present WNBA games. Napheesa Collier seemingly believes the league’s recent success is due to its players, not its leaders like Cathy Engelbert.

“Right now, we have the worst leadership in the world,” Collier said. “We serve a league that has shown they think championship coaches and Hall of Fame players are dispensable, and that’s fine. It’s professional sports. But I will not stand quietly by and allow different standards to be applied at the league level.”

Clark said she hasn’t spoken to Engelbert since Collier’s comments on Wednesday. Moreover, Clark confirmed she hadn’t heard Collier’s story about Engelbert until she publicly revealed it to the press.