Minneapolis, Minnesota — Napheesa Collier, the Minnesota Lynx superstar wey just finish her seventh season for WNBA, no fit hold back as she land blow for WNBA leadership, especially commissioner Cathy Engelbert. For her season-ending exit interview, she talk say, ‘We get the worst leadership for the world right now.’ (She no even give dem chance, e be like say she don tire of all the wahala.)
Collier talk say, ‘Di real problem for our league no be money or ratings; na di lack of accountability from di league office.’ She don dey see how officiating don turn to serious matter wey dey spoil the game for everybody. ‘E don reach level wey dey affect di integrity wey our sport suppose carry,’ she add. This no be small matter o; everybody dey feel am, but na only Collier get mouth to shout.
As dem dey prepare for playoffs, na so Minnesota Lynx lose to di Phoenix Mercury in semifinals, and Collier dey watch from sidelines because she don roll her ankle late for Game 3 – e no easy at all. Her coach, Cheryl Reeve, no fit enter di court too because she don receive suspension due to her own mouth wey no fit keep shut.
“Di league dey always talk about sustainability, but wetin we dey see no dey sustainable. Officials dey lose control of games, and dem no dey care,” Collier talk. She dey vex well well because fans dey notice am, coaches dey yell am, but di leaders just dey issue fines and look away like dem no sabi wetin dey happen. Na negligence she call am. (Na true talk she dey talk o; sometimes, na only when dem jab you for pocket dem go hear you.)
Collier still dey remember di conversation she get with Engelbert back in February. She ask di commissioner wetin she plan to do about di officiating matter, but instead of gree talk sense, Engelbert tell her, ‘Only losers complain about di refs.’ E pain Collier for body, because she also ask wetin dem go do about how players wey dey bring big revenue like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese dey receive small pay for dem first four years. Engelbert response? ‘Caitlin should be grateful she made $60 million off di court.’ (E be like say dem dey komot for reality o.)
Collier talk say she no dey fear say dem go fine her for di talk wey she don carry for public, but she dey fear for di future of di sport. ‘Everyone deserve to hear di truth. We get di best players and di best fans, but di worst leadership right now,’ she add. Na strong statement, and e no clear wetin go happen next for WNBA if dem no change di leadership styles.
As fans dey root for dem favorite players, e clear say Collier dey try to rally everybody make dem join force against di poor leadership wey dey turn a blind eye to all di pressing issues. E no go easy to bridge di gap wey dey between di players and WNBA since di frustrations don dey time long, but at least we get players like Collier wey go fit stand up for wetin dey rights. (Who no go like person wey go talk di truth, na dem go change di game for better?)
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