Five-time All-Star accuses WNBA of 'self-sabotage'

Five-time All-Star Napheesa Collier has accused nan WNBA of "self-sabotage" and failing to put nan use of players first.

The Minnesota Lynx defender said WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has shown "the worst activity successful nan world" and nan convention of a "lack of accountability".

Engelbert said she had nan "utmost respect" for Collier and remains focused connected "ensuring a agleam future" for nan players and nan WNBA.

Collier's frustrations travel an incident during nan Lynx's 84-76 conclusion by nan Phoenix Mercury connected Friday successful crippled 3 of their play-off semi-final series.

The 29-year-old injured an ankle successful nan last seconds aft a collision pinch Mercury's Alyssa Thomas, but nary foul was given.

Collier was sent disconnected for arguing against nan decision, pinch coach Cheryl Reeve fixed a one-match prohibition for scathing comments astir nan incident aft nan game.

Without Collier, nan Lynx mislaid crippled 4 connected Monday and were eliminated.

Reading a connection successful a news conference, Collier said: "I want to beryllium clear this speech is not astir winning aliases losing.

"It's astir thing overmuch bigger. The existent threat to our convention isn't money. It isn't ratings aliases moreover missed calls aliases moreover beingness play. It's nan deficiency of accountability from nan convention office.

"Since I've been successful nan convention you've heard nan changeless concerns astir officiating, and it has now reached levels of inconsistency that plague our athletics and undermine nan integrity of which it operates.

"Whether nan convention cares astir nan wellness of our players is 1 thing, but to besides not attraction astir nan merchandise we put connected nan level is genuinely self-sabotage."

Collier said Engelbert, successful a speech astir salary successful February, said prima players specified arsenic Indian Fever's Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky's Angel Reese should beryllium "grateful" for what they earn.

The convention and nan WNBA Players Association are successful talks complete a caller corporate bargaining agreement, pinch nan existent woody expiring astatine nan extremity of this month.

Collier's comments look to person nan support of Reese, who shared and liked nan video of her news convention connected societal media pinch nan caption: "10/10. No notes."