Is the WNBA turning over a new leaf after its players publicly called them out?
The Indiana Fever’s season came to a close after a 107-98 loss to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 5 of the WNBA Semifinals on Sept. 30, but the off-court drama hasn’t slowed down. Veteran guard Sophie Cunningham continues to keep the spotlight on the team through her social media activity and her “Show Me Something” podcast.
Prior to the matchup with the Aces, the 29-year-old made headlines by calling WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert “delusional” in an Instagram comment, accusing her of minimizing Fever star Caitlin Clark’s impact on the league. Cunningham even added, “People only know Cathy because of [Clark].”
Just hours earlier, Minnesota Lynx standout Napheesa Collier had shared with reporters a past exchange she had with Engelbert, claiming the commissioner said that Clark “should be grateful” for the WNBA’s platform, despite her unprecedented popularity, according to ESPN’s Malika Andrews.
Cunningham later revealed on her podcast Tuesday that the league had made an unexpected decision in response to her remarks.
Cunningham avoided a fine for her recent remarks, even though she’s previously been penalized for speaking out publicly. According to ESPN, the Missouri alum was fined $500 in July for criticizing referees in a TikTok video and another $1,500 in August for similar comments on the first episode of her podcast.
She’s not alone in being punished for voicing her opinions. Collier also criticized the league during her comments, accusing the WNBA of penalizing players and coaches for exercising free speech instead of addressing underlying issues—adding that she expected to be fined for her statements. Cunningham even joked that she might start a GoFundMe for Caitlin Clark, who was fined $200 in September after posting a social media critique of officiating.
Potential WNBA Lockout Looms as Drama Continues
Engelbert addressed Collier’s remarks with a public statement and a press conference (shared on ESPN’s YouTube channel), but the two have not spoken since. Collier told Axios’ Maxwell Millington on Monday that she “has nothing left to say” to the commissioner.
“For her to open her remarks by saying she has the utmost respect for me, and then call me a liar just minutes later … it really shows the lack of accountability,” Collier said.
Her comments echo the broader sentiment among WNBA players, many of whom publicly supported her stance, according to The New York Post. Meanwhile, the WNBA Players Association and the league face an Oct. 31 deadline to either finalize a new collective bargaining agreement or extend negotiations — otherwise, a lockout will occur.
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