WNBA sends Napheesa Collier message amid tense CBA negotiations

Senior Editor
WNBA sends Napheesa Collier message amid tense CBA negotiations image

Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

In 19 days, the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement expires, following a decision to extend the agreement to the end of November. The league and the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) continue to negotiate -- but progress has been slow, and tensions remain high.

Minnesota Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier has been at the center of this ongoing tension as the CBA's expiration date creeps closer.

On Sept. 30, Collier took advantage of her platform as a WNBPA executive committee member to make an incendiary statement against the leadership of WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Days earlier, Collier had suffered a season-ending ankle injury against the Phoenix Mercury; once Minnesota's season ended, Collier went on the warpath, and her relationship with Engelbert remains frosty at best.

WNBA recognizes Collier's 2025 season

Despite the uncertain state of CBA negotiations, the WNBA is still making time for Collier, as the league's "Milestone Week" social media campaign proved on Tuesday.

In a 38-second clip montage, the WNBA celebrated Collier's historic 2025 campaign, in which she led the Lynx to the league's best record and an appearance in the WNBA semifinals. Collier finished second in MVP voting for the second season running and joined Elena Delle Donne as the only players in league history who make up the 50/40/90 club.

Collier averaged a career-best 22.9 points on 53.1 percent shooting from the field, while she converted 40.3 percent of her 3-point attempts and shot 90.6 percent from the charity stripe. She was named an All-Star for the fifth time, and Minnesota won a franchise record 34 games.

Though the Lynx's season ended with Collier injured and the Mercury advancing to the WNBA Finals at their expense, Minnesota should open the 2026 WNBA season as one of the championship favorites. And Collier herself should be healthy enough to play in Unrivaled come January.

But the status of the 2026 season officially remains unknown, as Collier and the WNBPA continue negotiating with the WNBA over what is expected to be a historic, era-defining CBA.

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Contributing Writer