Cathy Engelbert did not receive a warm reception in Phoenix on Friday night. The WNBA commissioner stepped onto the court to present the championship trophy to the Las Vegas Aces, but the moment was shadowed by boos from the crowd. One fan was even seen raising a middle finger as Engelbert congratulated the Aces on their third title in four years. Finals MVP A’ja Wilson appeared visibly uneasy during the ceremony.
The hostile reaction followed weeks of criticism directed at Cathy Engelbert over her handling of player concerns. Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier recently alleged that Engelbert told her Caitlin Clark “should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court because, without the WNBA platform, she wouldn’t make anything.” Collier further claimed Cathy Engelbert remarked that players “should be on their knees, thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal.”
Those comments, though denied by Engelbert, have fueled growing frustration among players. “When you have great players, you need to treat them like that, and that’s top to bottom,” Aces guard Chelsea Gray said after the Finals. A’ja Wilson, who previously called Engelbert’s remarks “disgusting,” supported Gray’s stance and celebrated her comments during the postgame celebrations.
Cathy Engelbert has rejected the accusations, insisting she never made the statements attributed to her. “Obviously, I did not make those comments,” she said last week. “Caitlin has been a transformational player in this league. She’s brought in tens of millions of new fans.”
Caitlin Clark, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of building trust. “For me, it is all about relationships,” she said. “Whether it’s with your front office, the commissioner, or your teammates — that’s the most important thing in leadership.”
The tension between Cathy Engelbert and players has been compounded by what many see as poor communication. Retired stars Elena Delle Donne and Candace Parker both noted they never received acknowledgment from Engelbert after completing historic careers. Current players have echoed similar frustrations, saying they feel disconnected from league leadership.
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