Scoggins: Napheesa Collier’s remarks a prelude to bumpy WNBA offseason

Memo to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert: Good luck in those negotiations with players on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier drew a very deep and very personal line in the sand Tuesday with scorched-earth comments that, among other things, referred to the WNBA under Engelbert as having “the worst leadership in the world.”

Four days after Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve walloped the league with a tirade about the officiating, Collier calmly read a two-page prepared statement that ripped Engelbert and the league office to shreds.

Collier noted a “lack of accountability from our leaders” and “tone deaf dismissive approach” and “negligence” while also sharing embarrassing comments from private conversations she has had with Engelbert in a four-minute speech that undoubtedly rocked the WNBA office as it prepares for its marquee event, the Finals.

“I’ve finally grown tired,” Collier said at her season-ending news conference. “For too long, I’ve tried to have these conversations in private, but it’s clear there is no intention of accepting there’s a problem. The league has made it clear it isn’t about innovation. It isn’t about collaboration. It’s about control and power.”

That a professional athlete — especially one of Collier’s standing — leveled a blistering critique of the league commissioner so openly speaks to the depth of anger that exists within the league related to many issues.

Not only was Collier runner-up in MVP voting, she also is vice president of the players union.

When she speaks, people listen. And when she speaks this forcefully, the message is unmistakable.

The league has a major problem on its hands.

Make no mistake, this isn’t just an issue between Collier and the WNBA, or the Lynx and the WNBA. This was a prelude to a contentious labor staredown between players and the league with the CBA set to expire Oct. 31.

Collier’s remarks focused primarily on officiating.

Anyone who has watched even one WNBA game knows that officiating is a problem. The lack of competent officiating for the best women’s basketball league in the world is a joke and direct reflection on Engelbert’s inaction as commissioner to fix it.

“Whether the league cares about the health of the players is one thing, but to also not care about the product you put on the floor is truly self-sabotage,” Collier said. “Year to year, the only thing that remains consistent is the lack of accountability from our leaders.”

Officiating is one issue. Finances are also at the core of this rift.

With the CBA set to expire, players are seeking a larger share of revenues as the WNBA continues to grow in popularity with fans, sponsors and TV networks.

Negotiations are expected to be contentious, which was basically confirmed with Collier’s willingness to share details of private conversations she had with Engelbert in February. According to Collier, the commissioner made unflattering comments about young stars who have generated more interest and revenue for the WNBA.

Said Collier: “I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like [Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers] who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league are making so little for their first three years. Her response was, ‘Caitlin should be grateful that she makes $16 million off the court because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.’ In that same conversation she told me, ‘Players should be on their knees, thanking their lucky stars for the media-rights deal that I got them.’”

Of course, this is also the same commissioner who showed a remarkable lack of self-awareness by wearing a dress featuring the New York City skyline to a winner-take-all WNBA Finals game between the Lynx and New York Liberty last season.

Collier’s full statement will reverberate throughout the league.

Her criticism of the commissioner was as forceful as it gets and sets the tone for a bumpy offseason that could result in a work stoppage.