Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier, who made headlines three months ago with a pointed critique of WNBA leadership, expressed optimism Tuesday about the league's future despite ongoing frustrations in collective bargaining talks. Speaking at a news conference in Las Vegas for Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 basketball league she cofounded with New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart, Collier reiterated her call for change while highlighting unity among players as negotiations drag on.
Collier's comments came during the launch event for Unrivaled, set to debut in January 2025, which aims to provide WNBA players with additional off-season opportunities and competitive play. The conference, held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, drew a crowd of reporters and players eager for updates on both the new venture and the broader state of women's professional basketball.
In her explosive exit interview on September 29, 2024, following the Lynx's playoff run, Collier read from a prepared statement accusing WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert of negligence in managing the league. She declared that while the WNBA boasts "the best players and fans in the world," it currently suffers from "the worst leadership in the world." The remarks, delivered after Minnesota's season-ending loss to the Connecticut Sun in the semifinals, quickly resonated across the league.
Players rallied behind Collier almost immediately. Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull stated she "agreed with everything [Collier] said," while Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese posted "10/10. No notes!" on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike, a veteran Los Angeles Sparks center, amplified the message with an exclamation-filled post: "!!!! time is ticking and Phee speaks for me."
Reflecting on the impact Tuesday, Collier admitted the response surprised her. "I definitely wasn't expecting it to blow up as it did," she said. "I knew people in our community would see it, but I didn't know that it was going to gain so much traction." Despite the viral attention, Collier noted that "nothing has changed" at the league office level, pointing to stalled progress in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations that began in November 2023.
The talks, now entering their second year, have centered on salary structures and revenue sharing, with players pushing for a larger slice of the WNBA's growing pie amid surging popularity fueled by stars like Caitlin Clark and the league's media rights deal. According to Collier, other priorities include enhanced childcare support and improved retirement benefits, though she emphasized that revenue sharing remains the focal point. "We definitely want to keep the rev share the main thing," she said. "That's why you see that so much and why other things haven't been talked about as much."
Both the WNBA and the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) agreed last month to extend the current CBA through January 9, 2026, marking the second such extension since negotiations started. This buys more time but underscores the lack of advancement, with no major breakthroughs reported. League officials have not publicly commented on Collier's latest remarks, but sources close to the talks indicate that discussions remain heated over how to distribute projected revenues from a new $2.2 billion media deal over 11 years, starting in 2026.
"I feel confident in the [players association] and where we are internally with our players and the future," Collier said. "The conversation has been had now. People are seeing that changes need to be made. It's coming from so many different directions -- so many people feel this way. We're just excited for the future."
Collier's confidence stems from the growing solidarity among players, which she believes will accelerate momentum. She pointed to gatherings like the one at Unrivaled, where dozens of WNBA athletes are convening through March 2025, as well as a parallel event at Athletes Unlimited in Texas. "To have players congregate in that way, where you can have those in-person conversations and updates like that, that does help to get things moving more quickly," she explained.
This mirrors a pivotal WNBPA meeting during the WNBA All-Star weekend in July 2024 in Phoenix, where over 40 players attended to strategize on the CBA. Collier likened the current off-season clusters to that energy, noting their timing aligns with a critical window. "Us being here in December and January until March, it's a crucial time in the CBA," she said. "So many things need to happen in that time. Because of that, having us all in one place is beneficial. Things are going to get done."
Addressing concerns about player burnout, Collier dismissed notions of fatigue. "I don't think there's fatigue," she insisted. "Obviously, there's frustration in that both sides are trying to get what they want, but we still have that fire within us that we're willing to do what it takes. We're going to do whatever it takes to get what we think we deserve." She described the players as being in "lockstep" on their demands and resolve.
The backdrop to these negotiations includes the WNBA's remarkable growth. Attendance at regular-season games rose 48% in 2024, and viewership for the Finals between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx averaged 9.65 million viewers per game on ESPN platforms, shattering previous records. Yet, players argue that compensation hasn't kept pace, with top salaries capped at around $250,000 under the current deal, compared to multimillion-dollar contracts in the NBA.
Unrivaled itself represents an entrepreneurial response to these issues. The league, backed by investors including NBA stars like Carmelo Anthony, promises prize money exceeding $1 million for its inaugural season, with games broadcast on FS1 and Fubo. By offering a platform outside the WNBA's structure, Collier and Stewart aim to empower players financially and showcase their talents during the traditional off-season void.
While Collier's initial statement drew sharp rebukes from some league supporters who viewed it as divisive, her Tuesday update focused on constructive progress. Engelbert, in a separate interview last month with The Athletic, defended her tenure by highlighting expansions like the addition of the Golden State Valkyries in 2025 and charter flights for all teams starting this season. She described the CBA process as "complex" but expressed commitment to a fair outcome.
As the January 2025 tip-off for Unrivaled approaches, and with CBA deadlines looming, Collier's words signal a league at a crossroads. Players' voices, once amplified sporadically, now echo loudly in boardrooms and beyond, potentially reshaping the WNBA's economic landscape for generations. Whether that translates to tangible changes remains to be seen, but the fire Collier described shows no signs of dimming.