Aces 89 Phoenix 86 Finals Game 1: Embattled Engelbert Falls Back On Corporate Playbook Of Denying Collier’s Explosive Claims, Citing Inaccuracies In Media Reports About Her WNBA Leadership
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Game 1 Plot Lines:
- Aces win another close game to lead Finals Best of 7, 1-0: Aces 89 Mercury 86
- Aces outscore Phoenix, 22-15, in fourth quarter to close out win
- WNBA Commish Cathy “On the hot seat” Engelbert denies Collier claims
Story by Alan Snel Photos by Hugh Byrne
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Cathy Engelbert is a creature of the corporate world.
So, what did you expect when she was named WNBA commissioner in mid-2019?
A schmoozy basketball ambassador who would support player salary increases?
Or a business woman who work on a business “viability” plan so that WNBA team owners could feel confident in investing in a model that was losing money year-to-year?
Engelbert fell back on that corporate background — 33 years at the “Big Four” accounting firm of Deloitte, including CEO for five years — when she addressed the media about the state of the WNBA before Friday’s Finals Game 1 matchup of the Las Vegas Aces and the Phoenix Mercury. The Aces, which took it to the limit when they beat Seattle in three games in Round 1 and Indiana in five games in Round 2/Semifinals, are seeking their third WNBA crown in four seasons.
The embattled Engelbert has been under serious criticism from the WNBA’s biggest stars, especially Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier who absolutely blasted the WNBA commissioner in Tuesday’s comments highlighted by her statement that the WNBA has the “worst leadership in the world.”
But Engelbert used her pregame presser to counter with these statements:
“[The players] are at the center of everything we do. I was disheartened to hear that some players feel the league and me personally do not care about them or listen to them, and if the players in the W don’t feel appreciated and valued by the league, then we have to do better, and I have to do better.
“We know how great these players are on and off the court, how much they mean to our league, our fans and our communities. If they don’t feel that, I will do everything I can to change that. No one should ever doubt how deeply I care about this league, this game and every single player who makes the WNBA what it is.
“We value feedback. We listen to criticism. We remain committed to engaging in the difficult but necessary conversations that ultimately make us all stronger and better.”
Collier also cited Engelbert comments made in private to the Minnesota star player that included — according to Collier — that Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark “should be grateful. She makes $16 million off the court because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.’ And in that same conversation, she told me, ‘Players should be on their knees, thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them.’ ”
The labor strife between fed-up WNBA players who are upset from everything from their salaries to spotty officiating and WNBA league leaders comes at a brutal time because the product is drawing unprecedented attention and popularity. TV ratings are up and Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson is a worldwide marketing machine, introduced before Aces games by arena PA announcer Chet Buchanan as the greatest women’s player on the planet.
For the record, Engelbert relied on the corporate 101 handbook in dealing with the media for a half-hour before Game 1.
Engelbert, noting she “is not a quitter,” denied saying those comments about Clark and declined to get into a point/counterpoint discussion with the points made by Collier earlier this week.
Engelbert referred to “lots of inaccuracies” in this week’s media reports and was “disheartened” by some of Collier’s comments that referred to their conversations.
She relied on corporate speak like trying to create a “viable economic model” for WNBA teams that are increasing to 18 by the end of the decade. San Francisco was the 13th WNBA team that started play in 2025, with Portland and Toronto on deck for 2026, Cleveland in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030.
Before the Aces-Mercury Game 1, there was Engelbert talk of balancing player salaries with the “long-term viability of the league.”
And there were two other very formidable topics. One is negotiations of a collective bargaining agreement that could trigger a player strike, owner lockout or extension beyond the Oct. 31 deadline when the current CBA expires. Englebert said she’s meeting with the players association. As for talk that she might not be around after a new CBA, Engelbert said she has “never shoed away from a tough situation.”
Then, there’s the officiating issues that the WNBA will address, she said. The focus is calibrating a line between legal and illegal contact in light of the players’ physicality and athleticism, Engelbert said.
As for Game 1, Phoenix, which knocked out defending 2024 champs New York Liberty in three games and then top-seeded Minnesota in four games, led the Aces, 50-45, at halftime.
Leading the way for the Mercury were Kahleah Cooper with 19 points at the half and triple-double machine Alyssa Thomas with ten points and six assists. The Aces’ bench contributed bigtime in the first half with Jewell Loyd scoring 13 and Dana Evans adding ten. Wilson had nine points at the half, while her running mate Jackie Young chipped in with eight.
But if there is a theme to the Aces’ remarkable turnaround after a mediocre 14-14 start, it’s been the battle-tested team’s ability to close out wins with tough fourth quarter defense and clutch plays as the Aces took Game 1 with an 89-86 win over the fourth-seeded Phoenix club. Wilson finished with 21 points and so did Evans, who supplied microwave scoring punch with her 21 points in 26 minutes off the bench. Loyd added 18.
From the WNBA: Evans was the first player in WNBA Finals history to make five threes and record four steals in a game.
Game 2 is Sunday at Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay hotel-casino.
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