WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert denied ever slamming Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and claiming she “should be grateful” to the league.
Engelbert, 60, landed herself in hot water after some fiery comments made by Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier.
Collier, 29, claimed the commissioner once told her Clark, 23, should be showing more gratitude to the WNBA for securing her multiple sponsorship deals.
However, the basketball chief insists that was a gross “inaccuracy” that left her “disheartened”.
Engelbert said at her annual news conference ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Friday: “I did not make those comments.
“There is a lot of inaccuracy out there through social media and all of this reporting.
“I highly respect the players. There is a lot of emotion and passion going on right now between collective bargaining. I am obviously disheartened.”
Engelbert received some scathing criticism from other players as well, such as Clark’s team-mate Sophie Cunningham and Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson.
But the WNBA chief insists she will keep working hard to repair any “loss of trust” as she has immense respect for the players.
Engelbert added: “[Players] Are at the center of everything we do. I was disheartened to hear that some players feel the league and me personally don’t care about them or listen to them.
“If the players in the ‘W’ don’t feel appreciated and valued by the league, then we have to do better, and I have to do better.
“I feel confident that we can repair any loss of trust. I will do everything I can to change that.
“No one should ever doubt how deeply I care about this league, this game, and every single player who makes up what the WNBA is.”
Engelbert insists she is not planning to quit, contrary to reports suggesting she could be on her way out amid ongoing CBA negotiations.
The commissioner concluded: “I’ve never been a quitter, never shied away from tough situations.”
