WNBA legend Candace Parker clarified her feelings about the league’s commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, getting booed by the crowd during the 2025 Finals trophy ceremony. The Las Vegas Aces, led by their superstar A’Ja Wilson, steamrolled past the Phoenix Mercury in the Finals, beating them 4-0 in the best-of-seven game series.
The Aces’ Game 4 victory came on the road at PHX Arena in Phoenix, AZ. After the game, Engelbert went on the court to present the championship trophy to the winning team. During her speech before the trophy giveaway, the crowd booed when she began speaking, which was unpleasant for the WNBA commissioner.
Parker and Indiana Fever rising star Aliyah Boston reflected on the same during the latest episode of their ‘Post Moves’ podcast.
What Did Candace Parker Say About the WNBA Commissioner Getting Booed After the Finals?
While discussing some aspects of the league, Parker and Boston shifted their focus to the WNBA Finals, during which the three-time WNBA champion voiced her honest opinion about Engelbert getting booed by the fans during the trophy presentation.
Parker said, “It’s tough to lose. It really is tough. It is tough to lose. But what’s even tougher is to be booed. That was really crazy. Did you see on Twitter that people were screenshotting everybody’s reactions in the back when the booing started, but it went through her entire speech when she was talking at the beginning to give the championship trophy. People booed.”
She added, “Then there was a pause, and then she gets to come back up there and give the most outstanding player. Sorry, I’m in college mode. The finals MVP to A’Ja. They booed the entire time. It was OD. Wild. That was crazy. Yeah, the fans, that was crazy.”
Why Did Cathy Engelbert Get Booed During the WNBA Finals Post Ceremony?
Two weeks back, Minnesota Lynx Star Napheesa Collier voiced her anger towards Engelbert during her exit interview. The incident that Collier narrated to the press shook the league to its core. This happened during the new CBA discussions between the commissioner and Collier, who represented the players’ association.
In her press statement, Collier quoted Engelbert as saying, “Players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them. Without the platform the WNBA gives her [Caitlin Clark], she wouldn’t make anything.”
Collier said this was Engelbert’s response when she asked her why young stars and other seasoned stars in the league are getting underpaid compared to the salaries of other sports stars in various major leagues.
Furthermore, Collier clarified her statement: “Our leadership’s answer to being held accountable is to suppress everyone’s voices by handing out fines. I’m not concerned about a fine. I’m concerned about the future of our sport.”
This particular incident has sparked outrage towards Engelbert. Whatever happens next, if the players’ association and the league executives do not come to mutual terms over a new CBA agreement soon, then there will be a need to extend the deadline in order to avoid a lockout.