Everyone should read this statement by Napheesa Collier, even if you're not a fan of the Lynx or even the WNBA
I'd like to congratulate the Mercury to advancing to the finals. I want to be clear this conversation is not about winning and losing. It's about something much bigger. 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.
Since I've been in the league, you've heard the constant concerns about officiating and it has now reached levels of inconsistency that plague our sport and undermine the integrity in which it operates. Whether the league cares about the health of the players is one thing, but to also not care about the product we put on the floor is truly self-sabotage. Year after year the only thing that remains consistent is the lack of accountability from our leaders.
The league has a buzz word that they've rolled out as talking points for the CBA as to why they can't pay the players what we're worth. That word is sustainability. But what's truly unsustainable is keeping a good product on the floor while allowing officials to lose control of games. Fans see it every night. Coaches -both winning and losing- point it out every night in pre-game and post-game media, yet leadership just issues fines and looks the other way.
They ignore the issue that everyone in the game is begging to be fixed. That is negligence.
At Unrivaled, this past February, I sat across from Cathy and asked how she planned to address the officiating issues in our league. Her response was: "Well, only the losers complain about the refs."
I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like Caitlin, Angel, and Paige, who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league, are making so little for their first 4 years. Her response was: "Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn't make anything." [reporter says 'whoa' in the background]
In that same conversation, she told me "players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal I got them". That's the mentality driving our league from the top. We go to battle every day to protect a shield that doesn't value us. The league believes it succeeds despite the players, not because of them.
I had the privilege of watching my husband run a league where he has to balance a hundred different things at once. I won't pretend the job is easy. But even with all that on his plate, he always takes the time to reach out to players when he sees an injury, whether it's Unrivaled or even during the WNBA season. That is what leadership looks like. It's the human element. It's basic integrity. And it's the bare minimum any leader should embody. This year alone, l've gotten calls, texts, and well wishes from so many players across the league. Those moments remind me that sometimes there are things bigger than the results of this game we play.
But do you know who I haven't heard from? Cathy. Not one call. Not one text. Instead, the only outreach has come from her number two telling my agent that she doesn't believe physical play is contributing to injuries. That is infuriating and it's the perfect example of the tone-deaf dismissive approach that our leaders always seem to take.
I've finally grown tired. For too long, l've tried to have these conversations in private, but it's clear there's no intention of accepting there's a problem. The league has made it clear it isn't about innovation. It isn't about collaboration. It's about control and power. I've earned this platform and I've paid the price to get here, and now I have a responsibility to speak on behalf of the fans and everyone in this league that deserves better. Our leadership's answer to being held accountable is to suppress everyone's voices by handing out fines. I'm not concerned about a fine. I'm concerned about the future of our sport. At some point, everyone deserves to hear the truth from someone who I hope has earned the benefit of the doubt 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 right now, we have the worst leadership in the world.
If I didn't know exactly what the job [of running a league] entailed, maybe I wouldn't feel this way. But unfortunately for them, I do. We serve a league that has shown that they think championship coaches and Hall of Fame players are dispensable, and that's fine. It's professional sports. But I will not stand quietly by and allow different standards to be applied at the league level.
gummygunk
areudirty
dailybridgerton
jacobvanloon
stormborns
izzy806
pixelskylines
germansingergirl
