The fallout from Napheesa Collier’s blistering exit interview continues to ripple across the basketball world, and now one of the loudest voices in sports media has entered the fray. On First Take, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith did not hold back, openly demanding that WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert step down after what he called a “weak-a** statement” in response to Collier’s accusations.
“Kathy Engelbert, the commissioner of the league. Doggie, Peter, Monica, let me say for the record, you should resign. You need to resign, period. The reason I say that, Doggie, is because when a player, any player, but especially one of that magnitude, attacks you publicly like that, that weak-a** statement Commissioner Engelbert gave is not good enough.”
“And I’m going to say it. It was a weak-a** statement. Could you imagine somebody directing comments and criticisms at you, taking conversations they’ve had with you directly, and telling the world what you said? And did you see that statement Commissioner Engelbert gave? She basically provided no defense of herself.”
“I mean, I don’t have the statement directly in front of me, y’all. A mischaracterization. I’m disheartened at the mischaracterization. What? That was an attack against your leadership. It was an attack against your integrity. It was an attack against your character. And that’s the statement you came out with?”
“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. And then I’m looking at it and I’m saying, did you really say that? Did you really say that Caitlin Clark should thank her Heavenly Stars? That she wouldn’t be worth anything if she wasn’t playing in the WNBA? Did you really say that?”
“See, all of these things that Napheesa Collier brought up, I’m sitting back going like this. Girl, you got my a**, bro. I’m listening. Because she got very, very specific. And for the commissioner to come back with that, you can’t have her at the negotiating table talking to players. Basically, Collier said she’s in the way of our growth and our development as a league, not just on the player side, but on the league side. She’s not good for basketball. That’s what Napheesa Collier said.”
“Nobody questioned Cathy Engelbert’s business acumen now, because we know she knows business. And you see the average player salaries. It was 28,000 when they first started. It’s about over 130 now. You got salaries over 200,000 now, some of them. But that’s not enough. At the end of the day, you have a star player in the league saying the commissioner, this individual, is in the way of all of us. And that was her statement. I believe she should hand in her resignation.”
Collier, a four-time All-Star and MVP finalist this season, accused Cathy Engelbert of dismissing concerns about poor officiating and belittling players like Caitlin Clark, reportedly telling them they should be “grateful” for the platform the WNBA provides. The remarks sparked outrage from across the league, with stars like A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, and Erica Wheeler voicing support for Collier.
Cathy Engelbert’s official response was measured, saying she was “disheartened by the mischaracterization” but reaffirming her commitment to players. To Smith, that was nowhere near enough.
Smith argued that in professional sports, no commissioner could afford to let a superstar challenge their credibility so openly without a strong defense. The First Take host went further, saying Engelbert’s credibility at the bargaining table during ongoing CBA negotiations has been compromised.
Smith did acknowledge Engelbert’s business acumen, noting that average player salaries have risen from around $28,000 to more than $130,000 under her leadership, with top stars now making over $200,000. But he stressed that players like Collier, Clark, and Reese are demanding respect and accountability beyond just incremental financial gains.
The timing makes the controversy even more explosive. With the WNBA Finals set to begin, the league should be celebrating its growth in ratings and the rising profile of its stars. Instead, Engelbert’s leadership is under fire from her own players, and now from one of the most influential voices in sports media.
Whether Cathy Engelbert resigns or not, the message is clear: players are no longer willing to accept silence or half-measures from league leadership. And with Stephen A. Smith amplifying their grievances on the national stage, the pressure on the commissioner has never been higher.
