Napheesa Collier made sure she and the Lynx went out with a blaze on Tuesday when she bluntly criticized WNBA leadership over the league's officiating and ongoing CBA talks in her exit interview.
During Collier's scathing statement, much of which was directed at WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, the Lynx star brought up a personal conversation she had with Engelbert in February. The two discussed the issue of young marquee stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese playing on relatively small salaries despite driving massive revenue for the W.
During that conversation, Engelbert allegedly told Collier, "Caitlin [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."
Pause. Read that again.
Engelbert seemed to imply that Clark was benefitting the most from playing in the WNBA when in reality, it's much more likely the other way around. While at Iowa, Clark inked several lucrative NIL deals with big-name brands like Nike, Gatorade, State Farm and Panini. Those deals were worth a combined value of $3.1 million, according to On3, which ranked Clark fourth among all NIL-eligible athletes in 2024 and first in women's college basketball.
For reference, Clark received a base salary of $76,535 in her first pro season in the WNBA, as is the standard for rookies drafted with the top four overall picks under the league's current collective bargaining agreement.
To say that Clark is profiting from increased exposure in the WNBA when she has been raking in the dough years before she was drafted by the Fever is a truly wild comment.
Fans rightfully roasted Engelbert for it:
Point of clarity: Caitlin Clark had her deal with Nike before she ever entered the WNBA.
— Meghan L. Hall (@ItsMeghanLHall) September 30, 2025
It was an NIL deal that then turned into an endorsement when she turned pro.
The W has little responsibility in that. https://t.co/2wXaLCkErs
Caitlin Clark signed a $28 million deal with Nike before she ever played a single game in the WNBA https://t.co/p5SdjrCeH4
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) September 30, 2025
caitlin had multi-million dollar nike and gatorade deals in COLLEGE. she was making more than most wnba players when she was at collegiate level. saying she would be making nothing without the league is just gross misinformation and the savior complex cathy is putting on is nasty
— lyd (@i4clark) September 30, 2025
The WNBA gained millions of new fans, like myself, because of Caitlin Clark. If it wants to keep us around, then Cathy needs to be sacked as President. The W was basically nothing before Caitlin. Cathy, YOU should be grateful for CC, not the other way around. https://t.co/IrqooYy9N2
— Anthony Rodriguez (@ARod4Missouri) September 30, 2025
Caitlin Clark, NOT the WNBA, is responsible for her sponsorship deals.
— Evan (@EvanBoller) September 30, 2025
Frankly, Caitlin Clark is one of the main reasons there are so many more eyes on the WNBA. THEY should be grateful to her and the other younger athletes entering the league. https://t.co/hW09xUEibC
Cathy Engelbert does not have the WNBA’s best interest at heart she only cares about money if anything she should be grateful for Caitlin Clark driving up the ratings https://t.co/a1AFQ2w3Qn
— Jamie 🏎️ (@veloceleclerc) September 30, 2025
im sorry but “caitlin clark should be grateful for the wnba” IS INSANE 😭😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/PrpBI2Q4jq
— lauren (@wbbueckers) September 30, 2025
More WNBA on Sports Illustrated
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Fans Roast WNBA Commissioner for Alleged ‘Caitlin Clark Should Be Grateful’ Comment.
