CAITLIN CLARK has broken her silence on Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier’s comments aimed at WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
Collier went in on the WNBA after sustaining an ankle injury with no foul being called, before she was ejected for complaining about the lack of a call.
She told press on Tuesday: “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.”
Engelbert has been commissioner for six years, but has struggled to manage the explosive growth of the league and the demands of its players.
There have also been questions about the wages paid under Engelbert’s stewardship to the sport’s youngest and biggest stars such as Clark and rival Angel Reese.
Collier, 29, claimed that her response was that: “Caitlin [Clark] should be grateful she made $16million off the court because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything’.”
The league’s perceived failings, in combination with inflammatory accusations such as Collier’s, have led to increasing player revolts and speculation that she could be ousted from her role in the near future.
Now Clark, 23, has delivered the 60-year-old another blow as the Indiana Fever star broke her silence to back up Collier.
She said in an exit interview on Thursday: “I have great respect for Phee and I think she made a lot of very valid points.
“I think what people need to understand is we need great leadership at this time across all levels.
“This is the most important time in this league’s history and this is a moment we have to capitalize on. Phee said it all.”
Clark is one of the league’s biggest stars, winning rookie of the year in 2024 after being drafted first overall by the Fever.
The point guard also has significant sway over fans of the league, boasting over 3.5million followers on Instagram.
And she was not the only major star to come out against the commissioner this week.
Teammate Sophie Cunningham was less delicate in her comments towards Engelbert.
She uploaded a message on her Instagram story earlier this week that read: “People only know Cathy because of C [Clark].
The pair are teammates with the fever[/caption]
“She’s the most delusional leader our league has seen.
“And it shouldn’t ever be about our commissioner in the first place.”
She elaborated to the press on Thursday: “I’m just tired of our league.
“Our leadership from top to bottom needs to be held accountable.
“I think there are a lot of people in position of power in the WNBA who—they might be really great business people—but they don’t know s*** about basketball.”
