It all started when Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier used her exit interview to level serious allegations against WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Among them was the claim that Engelbert had dismissed player salary concerns by pointing out that Caitlin Clark earns $16 million in endorsements thanks to the platform the league provides. As Collier’s comments spread, support for her overall stance poured in from players across the league, while Clark herself stayed quiet on the matter. It’s only now, during her own exit interview, that the Indiana Fever star has broken her silence and addressed the controversy.

Clark ultimately took a modest approach in supporting Napheesa Collier, saying, “First of all, I have great respect for ‘Phee, and I think she made a lot of very valid points.” She didn’t dwell on the part of Collier’s remarks that involved her personally. Instead, she said, “What people need to understand is that we need great leadership in this time across all levels. This is straight up the most important moment in this league’s history, where this league has been around for 25-plus years, and this is a moment we have to capitalize on….I think Phee said it all with what she said and the points she made.”

The same was reported by WNBA reporter Chloe Peterson in a tweet made to her X account. However, the reporter also added a telling statement along with it. “Caitlin Clark says Napheesa Collier didn’t tell her she was going to mention CC’s endorsement money in her statement on conversations with Cathy Engelbert.” Caitlin also added that she’s not heard from Engelbert since Collier’s statements. That revelation added another layer to the controversy. Was there a communication gap, or did Collier allegedly use her name for the attention grab has been up for debate. Yet, the truth is, she finds herself in a unique position as one of the driving forces in the league amid the controversy. But she didn’t shy away from addressing this responsibility. 

In her exit interview, she said, “Everybody that’s in a place of power has a true responsibility, and even myself, we have a true responsibility to make sure this game is in a great place going forward with the CBA, and caring for our players and building this league to make sure it’s in a great spot for many years to come.” She didn’t entirely criticize Engelbert’s leadership, but also took the onus of driving the league, especially with the CBA negotiations on the horizon. But Clark’s impact on the league has been measurable.

While Engelbert allegedly says that Clark should be grateful for the platform she’s been given, fans first noticed Engelbert when she handed Clark her Indiana Fever jersey at the 2024 draft. And that jersey sold out in less than an hour, instantly becoming the top-selling draft pick jersey in WNBA history. Her presence alone drove attendance and viewership: in one month, arena attendance jumped by 94%, and her WNBA debut against the Connecticut Sun drew 2.1 million viewers on ESPN, the most-watched game in over 20 years. Later, her matchup with Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky averaged 2.3 million viewers, setting another record. And yet, this phenomenon wasn’t new.

Before she even joined the WNBA, Clark was a household name in college basketball. She was voted the most popular player in a Seton Hall poll, and nearly half the people surveyed could correctly identify her as an NCAA athlete. Her 2023 NCAA championship game against LSU peaked at 12.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched women’s college basketball game ever.

Collier also spoke about the WNBA’s officiating issues, criticizing the league’s leadership for a lack of accountability. But Clark, on her part, had expressed those frustrations and gotten fined for them, too. Most recently, she revealed being fined $200 for a social media post criticizing referees following a first-round playoff game against the Atlanta Dream.

While Collier advocated for fair compensation, so did Clark, like several other WNBA players, have reportedly taken a stance against the low pay that female basketball players receive. This was seen during the WNBA All-Star game when, even though she didn’t participate due to her groin injury, the Fever star had also donned a ‘Pay Us What You Owe Us’ T-shirt. However, what Clark never did was to ask anyone to negotiate on her behalf.

Whatever may be the case, such comments gave the ammunition needed for renowned analysts and sportscasters to take a stance against the WNBA commissioner.

Stephen A. Smith gives an ultimatum to Cathy Engelbert following Caitlin Clark’s comments

The 57-year-old sent his praise to the Fever star: “The person I call the golden goose of the WNBA, Caitlin Clark — you understand who is box office for the WNBA — for her to come out and say, ‘Phee said it all,’ she’s letting you know that Napheesa Collier didn’t lie, she didn’t mince words, and she didn’t mix words on what the collective body of the league is feeling about this commissioner and her leadership.

“I don’t care who it is. If someone calls you out publicly and you’re in a leadership position, you don’t give what I called that weak [explicit] response — that’s what she did. What you did was provide fire to the belief that everything Napheesa Collier said was the absolute truth, nothing but the truth, so help me God. You do that? It’s time for you to go.”

This isn’t the first instance of the ESPN sportscaster touching base on this recent controversy. Prior to Clark, Cathy Engelbert herself had spoken out about Collier’s comments. Without mentioning Caitlin Clark, the commissioner said that she has the utmost respect for the Lynx player and for all the players in the WNBA, and that her focus remains on ensuring a bright future for them.

With that, Engelbert also added: “I am disheartened by how Napheesa characterized our conversations and league leadership, but even when our perspectives differ, my commitment to the players and to this work will not waver.” Smith used that very statement against her and said, “Whether it was David Stern or Adam Silver or Roger Goodell or Paul Tagliabue, could you imagine a commissioner being called out like that directly? And that timid, tepid statement. Oh, she looks guilty as hell.”

According to reports, Cathy Engelbert can most likely be out as WNBA commissioner under the new proposed CBA. If that happens, this controversy can be put to bed, including any conspiracy theories or staunch beliefs regarding Napheesa Collier using Caitlin Clark. For now, however, this issue remains for WNBA fans to ponder.