Napheesa Collier’s criticism of WNBA officiating has quickly turned into a larger debate, and now Mark Cuban is adding his perspective. The Dallas Mavericks owner highlighted flaws in how referees are developed and promoted, echoing frustrations Collier raised after Minnesota’s playoff exit.
“Look at how they hire and train new officials,” Mark Cuban wrote. “Look at how they promote new officials and from where. Refs get trained in the G League. If they aren’t good there because there is very little investment made in training them there, how are they going to be good when they get to the WNBA or NBA?”
Cuban’s comments come after Collier blasted Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for what she called “the worst leadership in the world,” citing Engelbert’s dismissive response to complaints about officiating. According to Collier, Engelbert once told players, “Only the losers complain about the refs.”
The criticism isn’t just about missed calls during games. Collier and Cuban both pointed to deeper issues with how referees are prepared for the highest levels of basketball. If the developmental system is underfunded, poor habits will carry over to the WNBA and NBA.
Mark Cuban has long been outspoken about officiating in professional basketball, often clashing with NBA referees and league leadership. His decision to weigh in on Collier’s remarks gives her message a louder platform, drawing attention beyond the WNBA.
With both players and owners now calling for accountability, the pressure on Engelbert and league officials may only grow. The debate raises questions not just about referees, but about whether leadership across pro basketball is doing enough to fix a long-standing issue.
Mark Cuban Calls Out NBA and WNBA Referee Development System
Mark Cuban has never been shy about speaking his mind, and his latest comments on referee training once again highlight a problem he’s raised for years.
The Mavericks owner pointed directly to the NBA’s pipeline for referees, which includes the G League and WNBA, saying that the lack of investment at the ground level results in poor officiating at the highest stage.
“Refs get trained in the G League. If they aren’t good there because there is very little investment made in training them there, how are they going to be good when they get to the WNBA or NBA?” Mark Cuban wrote on X.
This isn’t new territory for Cuban. Back in 2019, he was fined $500,000 after blasting NBA referees and questioning whether the league had any interest in improving officiating standards. He said then, “There’s no accountability. They aren’t held to the same standard as players, coaches, or owners.”
By linking current WNBA officiating issues to the broader NBA system, Cuban is pushing a larger conversation: that the problem isn’t limited to one league. If referees aren’t properly developed in the minors, both leagues inherit the same inconsistencies.
Players like Napheesa Collier have already spoken out. Now, with Mark Cuban putting his weight behind the criticism, pressure may mount for a review of how officials are trained, evaluated, and promoted. For Cuban, who has spent years locked in battles with referees, this debate is another reminder that accountability is still lacking in pro basketball.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
