A’Ja Wilson ‘disgusted’ by WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after Napheesa Collier goes scorched earth

The back-to-back WNBA MVP is joining the fight against WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

Aces star A’Ja Wilson threw her support behind Lynx phenom Napheesa Collier after she ripped the league’s top executive for “the worst leadership in the world” and revealed controversial comments about Engelbert’s views on players’ worth, including Caitlin Clark.

“I had an opportunity to listen to Phee, and I just want to say I was honestly disgusted by the comments Cathy made,” Wilson said after the Aces beat the Fever in overtime, 107-98, in Game 5 of their second-round series Tuesday night, to advance to the WNBA Finals against the Mercury.

“But at the same time, I’m very appreciative that we have people like Phee in our committee of our Player’s Association representing us, because that’s where we’re going to have to continue to make the push to stand on what we believe in, and I’m grateful to have those type of people be able to continue to speak up for us. I’m gonna ride with Phee always, because she knows, obviously she’s a business girlie and she has her own stuff going on, but moving forward we’ve got to continue to stand on business as we talk about this CBA (collective bargaining agreement) negotiation.”

Amid a tense CBA negotiation between the players and the league, Collier, the former UConn standout, poured gasoline on the fire by going scorched earth on the league.

She went after Engelbert, the league’s refereeing and the WNBA’s approach to the CBA.

Collier alleged that during a discussion regarding rookie-scale contract, a point of contention while recent rookies like Clark, Angel Reese and 2025 No. 1 selection Paige Bueckers have taken the league by storm, Engelbert made some scathing remarks.

“This past February, I sat across from (Engelbert) and asked how she planned to address the officiating issues in our league,” Collier said. “Her response was, ‘Well, only the losers complain about the refs.’ I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like (Clark, Reese and Bueckers), who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league and are making so little for their first four years.

“Her response was, ‘(Clark) should be grateful. She makes $16 million off the court because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.’ And 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.’”

Engelbert released a statement pushing back on the notions presented by Collier.

“I have the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA,” Englebert said. “Together we have all worked tirelessly to transform this league. My focus remains on ensuring a bright future for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating on how we continue to elevate the game. 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.”

Collier’s statements earned her support around the league, with Angel Reese, Dearica Hamby, Lexie Hull and Cameron Brinks, among others, commending the standout for her stance.

Wilson’s voice carries plenty of weight since she may be the best player in the WNBA, having won back-to-back MVPS and four of the last six.

She’s attempting to lead the Aces to a third title in four years and is one of the faces of the league.

The players and the league seem set to continue to clash leading into the CBA’s expiration this Oct. 31.