Napheesa Collier Fined $5,000 After Blasting WNBA Leadership in Fiery Exit Presser..
Just hours after unleashing a torrent of criticism against WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in an explosive end-of-season press conference, Minnesota Lynx star forward Naphessa Collier has been slapped with a $5,000 fine for her remarks. The penalty, announced late Tuesday by the league, underscores escalating tensions between players and the front office amid ongoing officiating controversies and labor disputes.
Collier, the 2025 WNBA MVP runner-up and a vocal member of the WNBA Players Association executive council, didn’t hold back during her session on September 30. Limping from a severe ankle injury suffered in Game 3 of the Lynx’s playoff semifinal loss to the Phoenix Mercury, she read a prepared five-minute statement labeling Engelbert’s leadership as “the worst in the world.”
“We serve a league that issues fines and looks the other way,” Collier declared, recounting a February conversation at the Unrivaled league event where she pressed Engelbert on officiating woes. According to Collier, the commissioner dismissed her concerns with, “Only the losers complain about the refs.” She also slammed Engelbert’s stance on rookie pay, alleging the exec told her rising stars like Caitlin Clark should be “grateful” for off-court earnings enabled by the WNBA platform.
The outburst followed a tumultuous series for Minnesota. Collier’s injury came on a controversial no-call, prompting coach Cheryl Reeve’s ejection and subsequent record $15,000 fine plus one-game suspension—fines echoed for coaches Becky Hammon and Stephanie White for supportive comments. “It seems like anything with free speech is fined now,” Collier quipped when asked about repercussions.
Engelbert responded swiftly via statement: “I have the utmost respect for Naphessa Collier… My commitment to the players will not waver.” The WNBPA backed her, calling Collier an “outstanding leader” whose words reflect widespread frustrations.
As CBA negotiations loom, Collier’s defiance—echoed on social media with #FireEngelbert trending—signals a brewing rebellion. “I’m not concerned about a fine,” she said. “I’m concerned about the future of our sport.” With the Lynx out and Collier in a walking boot, her stand could ignite broader calls for accountability, testing the league’s growth against its stars’ voices.
