As commissioner Cathy Engelbert took the microphone to congratulate the Las Vegas Aces and crown them the WNBA champions, fans in Phoenix drowned out her message with relentless booing.<\/p>\n
She was booed again throughout her announcement, even as she presented A\u2019ja Wilson with the finals MVP trophy. Aces players seemed to ignore Engelbert as she stood beside them during the postgame ceremony before she exited the court as celebrations continued, and ESPN\u2019s Holly Rowe interviewed Wilson. More boos followed Engelbert.<\/p>\n
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Engelbert has been embroiled in criticism throughout the playoffs after Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier called her and the WNBA out as having the \u201cworst leadership in the world.\u201d Several WNBA players, including Wilson, publicly supported Collier\u2019s comments. The league is also staring down an Oct. 31 deadline to reach an agreement in the collective bargaining negotiations with players, who have described the talks as contentious.<\/p>\n
One of Collier\u2019s criticisms of Engelbert was addressing poor officiating. Collier was injured on a play that her coach, Cheryl Reeve, thought should have been a foul. Reeve was ejected from the game and then suspended and fined for charging after officials on the court and for her criticism after the game. In Game 4 of the WNBA Finals \u2013 a 97-86 victory at Mortgage Matchup Center by the Aces over the Phoenix Mercury for a clean sweep \u2014 officiating was in the spotlight again as Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts received a double technical foul<\/a>, which he later called \u201cweak,\u201d and was ejected from the game.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you have great players, you need to treat them like that, and that\u2019s top to bottom,\u201d Aces point guard Chelsea Gray said when asked about Engelbert getting booed. \u201cYou have legends that you guys get to witness every single day, and so when you have a league full of people like that, it needs to be treated as such. And that\u2019s payment. That\u2019s treatment. That\u2019s revenue share \u2026 You have to value them like that because there\u2019s no league without the players.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Englebert spoke to reporters before the finals began and said she intended to remain commissioner, and vowed to repair relationships with players. \u201cIf the players in the W don\u2019t feel appreciated and valued by the league, then we have to do better and I have to do better,\u201d Engelbert said. \u201cIf they don\u2019t feel that (appreciation), then I will do everything I can to change that.\u201d<\/p>\n She also denied comments Collier alleged Engelbert said to her in a private conversation, including saying Caitlin Clark should be thankful to the WNBA platform for her lucrative marketing deals. Following Engelbert\u2019s remarks, Collier canceled a meeting<\/a> the two had tentatively planned for this week.<\/p>\n NBA commissioner Adam Silver hired Engelbert six years ago, and she was given the first commissioner title in the WNBA. She has overseen massive growth in the league, including an 11-year, $2.2 billion media-rights agreement that will go into effect next season and adding six new franchises to the league.<\/p>\n Booing commissioners isn\u2019t unusual for sports fans. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman are routinely booed on draft day and sometimes during championship ceremonies. Even Silver hears boos at the NBA Draft.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n But many players have grown increasingly vocal about their frustrations with her leadership. And now, the fans in Phoenix have let their voices be heard, too.<\/p>\n