Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark became the focus of a league controversy after Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier called out WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert during her exit interview. Collier quoted Engelbert making dismissive comments about Clark’s salary and what she’s worth to the league.
How Did Caitlin Clark Respond to the Commissioner’s Comments?
In an X post, reporter Alexa Philippou wrote, “Via the Fever: Caitlin Clark has no comment on this statement.” That statement refers to what Collier revealed about her conversation with Commissioner Engelbert.
During her exit interview on September 30, right after Minnesota’s playoff loss to Phoenix, Collier commented. She gave a four-minute statement criticizing league leadership. Part of that statement included details about a conversation she had with Engelbert regarding rookie salaries.
Collier said she asked why young players like Clark earn so little despite driving massive revenue for the league. Engelbert allegedly responded: “Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court, because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.”
Clark earns just $78,066 from the WNBA while pulling in an estimated $16 million from endorsements with Nike, Gatorade, State Farm, and others.
Collier’s point was simple: If Clark can command that much money from sponsors, why does the league pay her so little? Engelbert’s response suggested Clark should be thankful the WNBA exists rather than address the pay disparity.
What Else Did Napheesa Collier Reveal About Commissioner Engelbert?
The Clark controversy was just one piece of a much broader criticism. Collier, who serves as WNBPA vice president, used her exit interview to call out Engelbert’s handling of multiple league issues.
When Collier asked how Engelbert planned to address years of inconsistent officiating, the commissioner allegedly responded, “Only the losers complain about the refs.” Players across the league have been raising officiating concerns for years, and Collier called that response tone-deaf and dismissive of legitimate competitive issues.
Napheesa Collier’s full statement today, where she challenged Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the WNBA with directness and stunning detail we rarely hear from active players. Worth listening to every word. pic.twitter.com/IRTvTc52EA
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) September 30, 2025
Engelbert also told players they should be “on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal I got them.” The deal brings in $200 million annually over 11 years, but rather than acknowledging the players’ role in making that contract possible, Engelbert positioned herself as someone deserving gratitude.
There was also a personal issue that Collier mentioned that bothered her. Despite suffering a left ankle injury in Game 3Â of the playoffs, she never heard from Engelbert directly. Only the commissioner’s second-in-command reached out with a call or text.
Lastly, Collier said, “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.” She called for real accountability from the league office instead of the usual response of fining players who dare to speak up about problems.
The timing of all this is bad for Engelbert. CBA negotiations are coming up, and players now have clear examples of how the commissioner talks about them.
Issues like rookie salary structure and player market value will be major sticking points, and Engelbert’s comments about Clark being “grateful” will hang over every conversation about compensation.
