The WNBA is staring down a critical deadline, with its current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on October 31. While the league and the WNBPA continue negotiating, Jason Whitlock believes the fallout could be devastating.
On his Fearless podcast, Whitlock argued that comments made by Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier could backfire on players and potentially damage the league itself.
“There’s so much idiocy in that four-minute statement that’s being celebrated all over social media,” Whitlock said, reacting to Collier’s exit interview. “I blame social media for promoting a level of stupidity that’s dangerous, toxic, lethal.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_wJMjplNGU
Collier had revealed that commissioner Cathy Engelbert allegedly told players like Caitlin Clark they “should be grateful” to the league and “on their knees” thanking her for securing a new broadcasting deal. Collier criticized the pay disparity between the revenue Clark brings in and what players earn, sparking widespread debate.
Whitlock wasn’t convinced.
“This may sound like an overstatement. We may never see the WNBA again… It may continue, but it will have so little relevance on the other side of this that it might as well go extinct,” he said.
He also took aim at Collier’s involvement in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league, suggesting she’s overestimating her ability to influence how the WNBA is run.
“Women Won’t Build Anything”: Whitlock’s Harsh Take on WNBA’s Leadership
Whitlock didn’t hold back when discussing the WNBA’s current leadership, extending his criticism beyond Collier to Engelbert and others.
“I don’t think Cathy Engelbert is very impressive at all,” he said. “I apologize for being this blunt, I think they’re in the right tribe to get these leadership positions that they have. They know nothing about growing the game of basketball in any real way.”
He then delivered his most controversial remark:
“Women won’t build anything. They’re not going to build a great basketball league. They’re going to destroy it. And they are destroying it.”
Whitlock also pointed to what he called the “mismanagement” of Caitlin Clark, whose arrival has brought unprecedented attention and revenue to the WNBA. Despite the NBA subsidizing the league to keep it financially stable, Whitlock argued that the players’ ongoing demands and criticism of the league are accelerating its downfall.
With the clock ticking on CBA talks, the WNBA faces a defining moment. Whether Whitlock’s prediction proves right or not may depend on how soon players and league officials can strike a deal.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
