The Game 5 Semifinals match between the Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever drew the most viewers of a WNBA Semifinals game in the history of the network, ESPN reported via X Thursday — yet another sign that the WNBA needs to be reworked from the top down to keep up with what is truly unprecedented interest and demand.
Rumblings of discontent within the league when it comes to leadership have persisted all season, but the topic was thrust into the forefront earlier this week after Napheesa Collier delivered an explosive statement during the Lynx's exit interviews. An average of 1.8 million people watched the Semifinals on ESPN (and viewership peaked at 2.1 million) — an increase of 57% over last year — and it's not immediately clear that the league's current leadership can be truly trusted to usher everyone collectively into what could be another successful season.
Cathy Engelbert will speak to the media Friday night
The news comes as WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who Collier described as "the worst leadership in the world" will speak to press ahead of Game 1 of the Finals Friday night. It's not clear what Engelbert will speak about, though she will undoubtedly be forced to more clearly address the allegations Collier raised.
("I have the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA," Engelbert said in a statement following Collier's interview. "Together we have all worked tirelessly to transform this league. My focus remains on ensuring a bright future for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating on how we continue to elevate the game. I am disheartened by how Napheesa characterized our conversations and league leadership, but even when our perspectives differ, my commitment to the players and to this work will not waver.")
Presumably, the top of the list of questions will also be about Engelbert's future in the WNBA altogether. Many are calling for the Commissioner — who was named to the role in May 2019 — to step down, and there are rumors that she was considering doing exactly that well before Collier took the stage.
Napheesa Collier has broad league support
Collier's statement was met with a wide range of support from players throughout the WNBA, including A'ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark. "I was honestly disgusted by the comments that Cathy made," Wilson told reporters following the Aces' win Tuesday night. "But at the same time, I'm very appreciative that we have people like Phee in our committee of players' association representing us, because that's what we are going to have to continue to make the push to stand on what we believe in. I'm grateful to have those types of people be able to continue to speak up for us."
Clark expressed a similar sentiment while speaking to reporters during the Fever's exit interviews Thursday morning in Indianapolis. Collier, she added, "made a lot of very valid points." What needs to be understood outside the WNBA is that the league "need[s] great leadership in this time across all levels," Clark also said.
As she pointed out, the WNBA is enjoying unprecedented success across the board, especially in terms of viewership numbers and game attendance. It is only logical that the league needs the kind of leadership that can handle that, and at this point in time, it's not clear Engelbert can deliver — or that players believe she can, which might be more important.