Minneapolis – Minnesota Linx star Nafais Koller She exploded by Wnba's leadership in her output interview on Tuesday, accusing the commissar of League Katie Engelbert of being “careless” of her management.
Collier said that the League could not solve the problems with refereeing, compensation for the players and the state of the common product. She also claimed that Engelbert told her in a private conversation that a superstar Kaitlin Clark And other young outstanding of them “should be on the knees” in gratitude for the platform that the League gave them.
“The answer of our leadership to be held accountable, is to suppress everyone's voices, giving out fines,” said Collier. “I am not concerned about the fine, I am concerned about the future of our sport. At some point, everyone deserves to hear the truth from someone, who, I hope, earned benefits from doubts to fight for what is right and fair for our athletes and our fans.
“We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world, but now we have the worst leadership in the world. If I did not know exactly what the work entails, perhaps I would not feel in this way, but, unfortunately, for them, I do it. We serve the league that showed that they think that the coaches of the championship and the hall Slap is not bad, and this is that it does not correspond, this is that it does not fit, and I will not stand at the level.
In response to Tuesday, Engelbert said that she had “maximum respect” for Colliere, but she was “disappointed” with how her conversations with the Lynx star were characterized.
“I am focused on ensuring a bright future for players and WNBA, including cooperation with how we continue to increase the game,” the statement said. “I am disappointed with how the Nafe described our conversations and leadership in the league, but even when our prospects differ, my commitment to players and this work does not hesitate.”
Collier, who said that the executing numbers of the failures of Wnba are a form of “self -filing” of the league, missed the loss and elimination of the game in the game 4 Phoenix Mercury With an ankle injury, she received after a conflicting collision with the star of Phoenix Alissa Thomas In the game 3. The head coach of Lynx Cheryl Rive was expelled after he spoke for the foul in the play and was subsequently suspended for game 4 after she criticized the entire state of performance in the league.
Collier plays a unique role as vice president of the Association of WNBA players and the co-founder of an unsurpassed professional basketball league, which was recently estimated at $ 340 million and announced the signing of stellar players, such as Paige BookersThe field potential conflict of interests with double roles Colliera was carefully studied in critical time for the future league.
League players are in the Battle of Fire with Wnba, trying to agree on a new collective agreement. Colliera’s words can add an even greater intensity to the conversation, which can lead to a stop of work in 2026 for players.
On Tuesday, Koller said that she wanted to publish some of the private conversations that she spent with Engelbert and other Wnba leaders in recent months, since both sides are preparing to sit on the opposite sides of the negotiation table in this off -season. She said that Engelbert’s alleged words about Clarke and other young players in the league in these private conversations were not suitable from the Wnba commissar. Engelbert allegedly told the collier that Clark should be “grateful” Wnba, as the commissioner claimed that the league platform helped Indiana fever The star makes money from the court.
“In February of this year, I sat opposite from [Engelbert] And she asked how she planned to solve the judicial problems in our league, ”said Koller. – Her answer was: “Well, only the losers complain to the referee.” I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like [Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers]Which clearly lead a huge income for the league and do so little during the first four years.
“Her answer was”[Clark] It must be grateful. She earns $ 16 million at the court, because she will do nothing without the platform that she gives. ” And in the same conversation, she told me: “The players should be on the knees, gratuing their lucky ones for the deal with the rights to the media that I received them.”
On Tuesday, the League announced a long -term agreement on rights to the media with the US network, just as players throughout the league demanded a large share of the total income of Wnba.
Riva said that she wanted to focus on the “celebration” of the season, and not on how the year of Minnesota ended. But she also said that she supports players and praised the leadership of Collier.
“Obviously, [Collier's] The voice is really important, ”said Rive, who added that she has no regrets about how the season ended, because“ this is not life. ”
If Lynx kept their two -digit leadership against Mercury in game 4 and won on Sunday, Collier said that her ankle injury would not allow her to participate in the game 5. But her attention was not on Tuesday, she said, but in the future.
The Wnba star said that she was concerned about the next chapter for Wnba, which currently allows his players to participate in the unrivaled in the offseason. Unrivaled recently signed a collection of talented players in reports that the League had earned $ 30 million in its first season last year.
The crock also said that she was not worried about any consequences from her comments.
“I am sure they will stay me,” she said. “I mean, it seems that everything that is now fined with freedom of speech.”
