Jason Whitlock has turned his fire on Napheesa Collier, blasting her push to create a new women’s basketball league. Collier, who recently announced her involvement in a three-on-three style competition, framed the project as an answer to growing fan demand. But Whitlock says it’s a recipe for disaster.
On his podcast, Whitlock didn’t hold back.
“So, we’re on the record in terms of where what I think about Cathy Ingleberg. Not impressive at all. This black queen feminist who thinks, ‘Hey, I’ve got a bunch of money to blow on three-on-three basketball and therefore I’m qualified to run a league.’ She’s just as stupid and just as much a beneficiary, a benefactor, of DEI as Kathy Ingleberg,” Whitlock ranted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GQM2X0A-DU
Napheesa Collier, a WNBA All-Star, has made headlines before for speaking on issues of player rights and visibility. This new venture, however, is facing skepticism even from those who support women’s basketball. Analysts point out that running a league requires infrastructure, long-term financial planning, and broadcast deals—things much harder to secure than a short-term exhibition event.
Collier isn’t just taking on a side project; she’s stepping into territory where major figures like the WNBA have spent decades building credibility. Whitlock argues this could split audiences, dilute attention from the league, and hurt the momentum created by stars such as Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson.
Still, Collier’s backers say her effort is meant to expand opportunities, not compete directly. They frame it as an experiment that could attract younger fans and investors. For now, the debate circles around whether Napheesa Collier is spearheading innovation or overestimating her influence. With Whitlock painting her as another symbol of “failed leadership,” the scrutiny will only grow louder.
Jason Whitlock Says Napheesa Collier’s League Will Destroy Women’s Basketball
Jason Whitlock didn’t stop with his swipe at Napheesa Collier’s new project. He doubled down, saying the plan doesn’t just miss the point—it threatens to undermine the sport.
“They’re not going to build a great basketball league. They’re going to destroy it. And they are destroying it. They had a gift sent to them called Caitlyn Clark and they’ve completely mismanaged it,” Whitlock said. His criticism pointed at the WNBA as well as Collier, arguing that the focus has shifted away from building a stable product toward short-term ventures.
Napheesa Collier has framed her initiative as a way to add value to the women’s game, saying that more platforms create more visibility. But Whitlock’s take is that such ventures distract from the progress already made. He argues that fans don’t want another fragmented league. They want a consistent, high-quality competition with clear stars and storylines.
Napheesa Collier now stands at the center of a debate bigger than her own career. The clash between innovation and tradition may decide not only the success of her project but also the direction women’s basketball takes in the coming years.
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.
