Several notable individuals from the basketball world are pledging their allegiance to Minnesota Lynx guard Napheesa Collier. This is because on Tuesday, Sept. 30, the multi-time All-Star targeted WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in her 2025 WNBA season exit press conference, revealing previous discussions around WNBA players’ compensation.
In Collier’s statement, she alleged that there is a significant lack of accountability in the WNBA’s higher-ups. This was Collier’s opening statement, and she even looped in Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers into the conversation.
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This prompted the likes of Indiana Pacers floor general Tyrese Haliburton, former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban, and Chicago Sky stalwart Angel Reese, among the other standout individuals compiled by @espn on Instagram, to drop their own reactions over Collier’s huge statement.
“Whew,” Haliburton wrote.
“10/10. No notes,” Reese said.
“Look at how they hire and train new officials. Look at how they promote new officials and from where. Refs get trained in the G-League. If they aren’t good there because there is very little investment made in training them there, how are they going to be good when they get to the WNBA or NBA?” Cuban questioned.
“Standing with Phee,” New York Liberty’s Isabelle Harrison shared with clapping emojis.
“If you’re not following Napheesa Collier’s press conference right now, you should be. Wow. Don’t know when I’ve ever I’ve seen an active player take such direct and personal aim at a league and commissioner,” reporter Ramona Shelburne posted.
The former UConn Husky put up another stellar season in the WNBA this past year. She and the Lynx were gunning for the 2025 championship after they were defeated by the New York Liberty in the 2024 finals, but had their hopes thwarted when they reached the semifinals and were beaten by the Phoenix Mercury.
Also Read: “That’s Why No One Should Defend Her”: Fans Slam Caitlin Clark After Napheesa Collier’s Defense Draws No Reaction
Las Vegas Aces Standout Chelsea Gray Also Spoke About The Recent WNBA-CBA Talks
Among the several notable figures from the basketball world who resonated with Napheesa Collier’s statement was Las Vegas Aces standout Chelsea Gray.
In a recent post by women’s basketball reporter Alexa Philippou, Gray said there is a lot of work to be done before the developments with the CBA and WNBA progress towards the compensation of WNBA players.
Chelsea Gray on the status of CBA talks: “Not great, not where we thought and wanted to be at this point in time. We have a lot of work to do, more so on the W side and with Cathy, and understanding our value as a league, as players, and there’s no league without the players.”
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) September 30, 2025
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