As the WNBA 2025 season comes to an end, there is a lot to be proud of. In the 2024 season, the league generated over $200 million in revenue, with projections for the 2025 season even higher. All-Star weekend brought moments like the Minnesota Lynx Courtney Williams and Natisha Heidman’s infamous ‘Stud Budz’ 72-hour Twitch livestream, Paige Buecker’s hard launch of her relationship with former UConn teammate Azzi Fudd, Napheesa Collier’s record-breaking 36-point performance and the anthem of the weekend ‘Pink Pony Club’. That being said, not everything about the league is as good as it seems.
Injuries affected teams at a record-breaking rate all season long. It seemed like every other day someone was going down with an injury, many of them season-ending. The Indiana Fever and Dallas Wings took the heat of it, with the Fever signing practically a whole new roster after stars Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald all suffered season-ending injuries. At one point, the Wings had to sign players to an “extreme hardship contract” after barely having enough players available to meet the eight-player minimum.
However, many of these injuries have come at the expense of inconsistent referees. After unanticipated growth from stars Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers joining the league, the league has quickly become too physical. Inconsistent calling from the refs, resulting in injured players, has led to frustration across the league and from fans alike.
The most recent and possibly notable example of this comes from the Minnesota Lynx Game 3 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Sept. 26. After Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas made hard contact with Lynx star Napheesa Collier’s leg, there was no call on the play. Following the play, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve stormed onto the court, with word choices and actions on the court and after the game that inevitably led to a record $15,000 fine and a one-game suspension. Collier was also ruled out of Game 4 with a leg injury, and the Lynx were shockingly eliminated from the playoffs in an 86-81 loss.
Additionally, the WNBA player pay gap is unfair, and the players deserve to be paid equally. Clark’s 2024 rookie salary was approximately $76,535, while Collier’s salary was $214,284. While that may seem like a lot, it’s not in comparison to NBA player salaries. Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry’s 2025 salary was a whopping $59.61 million, and Iowa State alum and Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton’s salary was $45.55 million. WNBA players have long fought for equal pay, yet despite the league’s continued growth, changes to salaries are nowhere to be found.
After the Lynx’s unexpected loss in the semifinals, Collier made a statement addressing the ongoing issues in the league at the Lynx’s exit interview. “The real threat to our league isn’t money, it isn’t ratings, or even missed calls, or even physical play. It’s the lack of accountability from the league office.” Collier stated.
She went on to discuss conversations had in February with league commissioner Cathy Engelbert. When asked about how Engelbert planned to address the inconsistency in refereeing, she reportedly stated, “Well, only the losers complain about the refs.” Additionally, when asked about why rookie salaries were so low, she reportedly stated, “Caitlin should be grateful she makes $60 million off the court because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.”
Several players have also reported that following injuries in the regular season, they received countless get-well wishes from other players and coaches, but never once heard from Engelbert.
As Collier stated, “The players go to battle every day to protect a shield that doesn’t value them back.” Following Collier’s statement, many fellow WNBA players have also spoken out regarding upper leadership, backing Collier. Fever star Sophie Cunningham went as far as to say players would propose a lockout until they [players and coaches] receive the treatment they deserve.
As the commissioner of the league, you should be backing your players and coaches and also addressing the issues at hand. Being able to confidently say that a player who rose to fame before coming to the league ‘wouldn’t have anything‘ without the platform the WNBA gives her, or that only losers complain about the refereeing, is shocking and disappointing.
Following comments from Collier and other players, Engelbert made a statement of her own at a press conference prior to Game 1 of the WNBA finals. Engelburt stated that she has the “utmost respect for Napheesa and every single player in our league [WNBA],” and was disheartened to hear that some of those players feel she doesn’t care about them or listen to them. She also claimed that her alleged statement about Clark was false and denied ever saying it. Collier and Engelbert were scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Oct. 7, but sources reported that following Engelburt’s statement, Collier cancelled the meeting.
Despite criticism and harsh comments from players, coaches and fans all season long, Engelbert and upper leadership have ignored these issues and instead issued fines and suspensions. It is clear where her priorities are, and someone who walks around with that mindset does not deserve to be in a leadership position. Cathy Engelbert should highly consider resigning from her position for the betterment of her reputation and the WNBA as a whole.
