WNBA players are throwing their support behind Napheesa Collier after her scathing statement about the league’s leadership, and in particular, commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

Collier criticized the WNBA as having “the worst leadership in the world” when she spoke with reporters for her exit interview after the Lynx were eliminated from the WNBA semifinals by the Mercury.

Meanwhile, league officials have scrambled to control the narrative, issuing a brief statement that praised players for their “passion and commitment” while urging unity. But critics blasted the response as tone-deaf and evasive, accusing the league of papering over deep cracks with shallow platitudes. The lack of immediate, concrete action has only fueled the sense that players are prepared to escalate their demands if ignored.

Behind the scenes, insiders say team owners are already pressuring the league office to address the growing backlash before it spirals into full-scale disruption. Some have privately expressed concern that stars could stage organized protests, boycotts, or even a push for stronger union action if their grievances continue to go unanswered. For a league banking on momentum and mainstream breakthroughs, the stakes could not be higher.

For the players, however, the risks seem worth it. Collier herself has doubled down on her comments, saying in a follow-up interview: “If speaking the truth makes me a target, so be it. I’d rather fight for something than stay silent and watch things stay the same.” That uncompromising stance has elevated her from star athlete to potential face of a movement.

A slew of players across the league have voiced their support in one form or another for the five-time All-Star and her comments on Tuesday.

Napheesa Collier during the second half of the Lynx’s Game 3 loss to the Mercury on Sept.26, 2025 in Phoenix. Getty Images

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese posted on X, “10/10. No notes!”

Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby posted on X: “@PHEEsespieces thank you for your bravery!!!!!!!!”

Fellow Sparks star Cameron Brinks shared Collier’s more than four-minute-long statement in an Instagram Story, and WNBA Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers posted a photo of herself and Collier with the words “Queen Phee” written under it with a crown emoji.

“I think I agree with everything [Collier] said,” Indiana Fever star Lexie Hull told reporters in Las Vegas, according to ESPN. “We’re at a really important time in the league and changes need to be made, and so you’re seeing her talk about that, and really proud of her for making that statement today.”

New York Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison weighed in on X, writing, “Standing with Phee.”

Among those who offered support was the WNBAPA .

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks during a press conference announcing a WNBA franchise in Cleveland on September 16, 2025 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NBAE via Getty Images

“Napheesa Collier is an outstanding leader and Officer of this Union,” the union said in a statement of Collier, who serves as the WNBPA vice president. “When Phee speaks, people listen.

Angel Reese was among the first to publicly back Collier, using her platform to amplify the message. “She said what we’ve all been thinking,” Reese tweeted, igniting a flurry of responses from players across multiple teams. Others, including A’ja Wilson, Arike Ogunbowale, and Kelsey Plum, echoed the sentiment, signaling that this was no isolated rant but rather a tipping point for collective frustration. Suddenly, a moment of personal fury had transformed into a rallying cry for systemic change.

What makes this eruption even more significant is the timing. The league has been celebrating its unprecedented growth in attendance, viewership, and sponsorships, heralding a so-called “new golden era.”

But beneath the glittering headlines, players have been voicing growing discontent over issues like pay disparity, grueling travel schedules, inconsistent officiating, and a lack of transparency in league operations. Collier’s rant didn’t just shine a light on these problems—it ripped the lid off them in public, in a way the league can no longer ignore.

We are confident that her words today speak to the feelings and experiences of many, if not most or all of our members. The leaders of the league and its teams would benefit from listening to her powerful statement. The players know their value even if the league does not. They are fighting for their legacy and the future of basketball.”

WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark did not have a comment on Collier’s statement, a spokesperson for the Fever told multiple outlets.

Among the revelations from Collier was Engelbert’s alleged passive view of the players.

Minnesota star Napheesa Collier watches from the bench during the second half of the Lynx’s Game 4 loss to the Mercury on Sept. 28, 2025. Getty Images

“This past February, I sat across from [Engelbert] and asked how she planned to address the officiating issues in our league,” Collier said. “Her response was, ‘Well, only the losers complain about the refs.’ I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like [Clark, Reese and Bueckers], who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league and are making so little for their first four years.

“Her response was, ‘[Clark] should be grateful. She makes $16 million off the court because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.’ And in that same conversation, she told me, ‘Players should be on their knees, thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them.’”

In a statement, Engelbert said she has the “utmost respect” for Collier and the league’s players and said she was “disheartened by how Napheesa characterized our conversations and league leadership.”

The WNBA has been rocked by one of its most dramatic flashpoints yet, as Napheesa Collier’s explosive rant has ignited what many are calling the beginnings of a full-scale player revolution. The Minnesota Lynx superstar left nothing on the table in her searing postgame comments, torching the league’s leadership, officiating, and overall treatment of its athletes. The firestorm was immediate—and within hours, fellow stars like Angel Reese and a growing number of marquee names rallied to her side, forming what looks like the most unified player uprising in recent league history.

Collier’s frustration boiled over following yet another tightly contested game marred by controversial officiating and what she described as “disrespect at the highest level.” Her words were raw and unfiltered: “We’re not just players, we’re the product that keeps this league alive, and the way we’re treated is unacceptable.” The sting of her statement reverberated across the basketball world, with many stunned at how directly she called out the WNBA itself. Yet for countless fans and fellow athletes, it was a long-overdue truth bomb that needed to be said.

Social media became the battleground within minutes. Hashtags like #WNBARevolution and #PlayersFirst began trending, with thousands of fans pledging support. Some even drew parallels to historic player movements in other leagues, like the NBA’s “bubble protest” of 2020 or the US Women’s National Soccer Team’s fight for equal pay. The energy, fans say, feels different this time—like something bigger is building.

For Angel Reese, aligning herself with Collier is both symbolic and strategic. As one of the league’s most visible rookies, Reese’s star power brings younger fans and massive social media influence to the cause. Her backing ensures that this is not just a veteran-led push but a cross-generational movement that unites both established legends and rising stars. That breadth of support makes it all the more difficult for the WNBA to downplay.

Fans, too, are split between shock and excitement. While some lament the negativity overshadowing the Finals buildup, many more argue that this is exactly the kind of moment that can push the league forward in the long term. “Revolutions are never clean, but they’re necessary,” one supporter posted. Another wrote, “The WNBA is at a crossroads—listen to your players, or risk losing the very people driving this historic growth.”

What happens next could define the league for years to come. Will the WNBA embrace the challenge, acknowledging player grievances and working toward genuine reform? Or will it attempt to silence dissent and risk inflaming the situation further? One thing is clear: Collier’s scorched-earth rant has set off a chain reaction, and with Angel Reese and other heavyweights now standing beside her, the flames of change are burning hotter than ever.

The revolution is no longer a whisper. It’s at the doorstep of the league office, and this time, the players aren’t backing down.