Seven months after her viral comments about the WNBA and Cathy Engelbert, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier recently revisited and explained the reason behind her criticism.

The league and the players' union agreed to a new CBA deal in March after a 17-month-long negotiation process. However, Collier said the WNBA had “the worst leadership in the world,” tearing into league commissioner Cathy Engelbert amid frustrations with the then ongoing negotiations and officiating. 

"Thinking about the state of the world right now, I think that's a little dramatic. I think it was something that needed to happen, and it was something that furthered our CBA [collective bargaining agreement] negotiations." Collier said in an interview with NPR.

The 29-year-old made her initial comments about the league commissioner after the Minnesota Lynx suffered elimination in September. Collier also added that her criticisms were in part because she understood how to lead a women's basketball league.

Collier co-founded Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, and launched it last year.

While the Lynx player admitted that her comments helped push negotiations in the WNBPA’s favor, she also said she was unhappy with how her statements may have personally affected Cathy Engelbert. The WNBA commissioner said Collier’s comments left her “disheartened.”

 “I never want someone’s personal life the way that it was for her,” Collier said. “She got a lot of backlash for that. And what I was talking about was professionally. When you take things personally, that was an unintended consequence for sure.”

It is still unclear what the current relationship between Collier and Engelbert is, but the end product of the CBA negotiations turned out to be for the better of the league as a whole.

As we approach the new WNBA season, the Lynx are looking like a new team from last season, ready to make an impact.

However, they will have to play their first few games without the help of Collier, who is still out recovering from her injury.

When Can Napheesa Collier Return to the Court?

Collier underwent offseason surgery to repair torn ligaments in both ankles, and her expected time of recovery in January was four to six months.

The Lynx management has taken a cautious approach with Napheesa Collier, who is now expected to return in June.

She also signed a one-year, $1.4 million supermax contract with the Lynx during free agency, becoming only the third player in the WNBA to do so.

The Lynx have made good moves this offseason, signing No.2 overall draft pick Olivia Miles, a player who goes straight to their starting lineup.

However, to have any chances of winning the title this time around, the Lynx would hope that Collier returns to the hardwood sooner rather than later.

Minnesota play their first game of the season against Angel Reese's Atlanta Dream on May 10, and it will be interesting to see how the likes of Kayla McBride and Miles fare without Collier.

So, do you think the Minnesota Lynx has what it takes to win this season's WNBA title?

Follow She Got Game for more

Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Souvik Roy