WNBA players back Collier in ripping league

LAS VEGAS -- A big of WNBA players leaguewide showed enactment for Minnesota Lynx prima Napheesa Collier aft she ripped WNBA enactment successful her exit interrogation Tuesday.

"I deliberation I hold with everything [Collier] said," said Lexie Hull, the Fever's alternate subordinate rep for the WNBPA, anterior to Indiana's winner-take-all Game 5 semifinal matchup against the Las Vegas Aces. "We're astatine a truly important clip successful the league and changes request to beryllium made, and truthful you're seeing her speech astir that, and truly arrogant of her for making that connection today."

Collier shook the sports satellite connected Tuesday erstwhile she accused league commissioner Cathy Engelbert of being "negligent" successful her governance.

"We person the champion players successful the world. We person the champion fans successful the world," Collier said successful her lengthy remarks, "but close present we person the worst enactment successful the world."

Collier came successful 2nd successful MVP voting this year. In summation to serving arsenic a vice president of the WNBPA, she and Breanna Stewart co-founded and launched Unrivaled past year, a 3-on-3 women's hoops league that operates during the WNBA offseason.

"Napheesa Collier is an outstanding person and Officer of this Union," the WNBPA said successful a statement. "When Phee speaks, radical listen. We are assured that her words contiguous talk to the feelings and experiences of many, if not astir oregon each of our members. The leaders of the league and its teams would payment from listening to her almighty statement. The players cognize their worth adjacent if the league does not. They are warring for their bequest and the aboriginal of basketball."

Added Fever manager Stephanie White, a erstwhile WNBA subordinate and longtime manager successful the league: "I person a batch of respect for Phee.... I'm thankful that we person beardown women that are consenting to accidental the things that substance and accidental the things that volition determination the needle for change."

Several different WNBA players voiced their enactment for Collier connected societal media.

Paige Bueckers- - whom Collier mentioned arsenic 1 of the young revenue-drivers successful the league successful her comments contiguous -- posted an Instagram communicative featuring a photograph of her and Collier with the caption "Queen Phee" successful an evident amusement of support.

"10/10. No notes!" Chicago Sky prima Angel Reese posted connected X.

"@PHEEsespieces convey you for your bravery!!!!!!!!" Los Angeles Sparks standout Dearica Hamby added.

Two-time MVP Elena Delle Donne posted astir Collier successful her Instagram story, adding: "It's the attraction for the quality portion for me. I'm inactive not definite if Cathy knows I retired. Heard from everyone but her."

In Collier's remarks, she besides alleged that Engelbert told her that Caitlin Clark "should beryllium grateful she makes $16 cardinal disconnected the court, due to the fact that without the level that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn't marque anything."

The Fever said Clark has nary remark astir that statement.

Clark's Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham aboriginal commented connected Instagram, "people lone kno...