Collier demands better WNBA leadership, revealing league shortcomings and her proactive solutions to empower players during crucial CBA talks.
As negotiations between the WNBA and the players’ union continue to intensify, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier has doubled down on her criticism of league leadership while defending her decision to speak publicly about the issue.
Collier, one of the most influential voices in the WNBA and a vice president of the WNBPA, first made headlines following the 2025 season when she openly questioned the league’s leadership and compensation structure.
The comments quickly spread across the basketball world and brought renewed attention to the growing tension surrounding the league’s collective bargaining negotiations.
Speaking on The Athletic Show, Collier explained why she felt it was necessary to be outspoken about the situation.
“Right now we have the worst leadership in the world,” Collier said. “Public pressure, I think, is very important when it comes to these things as well. Trying to get things done behind closed doors wasn’t working.”
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Collier added that the reaction to her comments reached far beyond the basketball community, though she remains confident she made the right decision.
“I knew basketball people would hear it, but it definitely reached farther than I thought it would,” she said. “People received it positively, but even if they hadn’t, I feel really strongly that what I said was the right thing.”
The Minnesota Lynx forward has not only been vocal about the problems facing WNBA players, she has also been part of creating a potential solution. In 2023, Collier teamed up with fellow WNBA star Breanna Stewart to launch Unrivaled, a professional 3-on-3 league designed to give players a lucrative domestic offseason alternative.
For years, WNBA players were forced to spend months overseas to supplement their income. That system often meant missing family time and losing marketing opportunities that depend on a player’s availability in the United States.
“Most people don’t know we make most of our money off the court,” Collier explained. “Brand building is crucial, and if you’re gone in another country for six months, companies aren’t going to sign you.”
Unrivaled was built to address those concerns. Players earn six-figure salaries and receive equity in the league, allowing them to benefit directly from its growth. Collier noted that the league even offered the WNBA an opportunity to invest early on, though that offer was declined.
While some initially viewed Unrivaled as competition for the WNBA, Collier insists the goal is to strengthen the overall ecosystem of women’s basketball.
Still, the league’s success has given players added leverage in ongoing CBA discussions. As Collier made clear, WNBA athletes are no longer negotiating from a position of limited options.