The WNBA has been plunged into a civil war over the last week and now one the league’s most recognizable names, Angel Reese, has joined the conversation.
Conflict within the league began after one WNBA star launched a blistering attack on league commissioner Cathy Engelbert during an end of season press conference.
Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier claimed the WNBA has ‘the worst leadership in the world’ amid feud’s over officiating and salary structures within the league.
As an example, despite her enormous impact on the league and women’s basketball, Caitlin Clark made just $78,066 this year from her WNBA salary.
A startling low figure for one of the country’s most notable basketball stars and, because of this, WNBA players have begun seeking other avenues of revenue.
That seems to have worked out for Chicago Sky star Reese, who revealed on Friday that she had made ‘six-figures plus’ over her ‘Mebounds’ merchandise.
The term, which is derived from being selfish as a rebounder, is a clapback from Reese to some of her online haters who believe her best skill in the WNBA comes from her prioritizing herself and not the entire Chicago Sky roster.
Reese filed a trademark for the phrase in her home state of Maryland back in June and covers any tee shirts, sweatshirts, and hats with the name ‘Mebounds’ on it.
She then released her first pair of shoes with Reebok which are named the ‘Angel Reese 1s’ – though fans have commonly referred to them as the ‘Mebounds’.
Revealing the success of her trademark and merchandise, Reese took her show – ‘Unapologetically Angel – to clap back at her naysayers.
She declared: ‘If you know, you know. They tried to clown me for rebounds and what did I do? I made a bag off of it. Six figures plus.
‘So, y’all can try again because I do need another idea for some more colorways. So, just keep it coming’.
Prior to that, Reese had posted pictures from her recent vacation, where the WNBA star was lounging on a boat in a stunning bikini.
In response, one fan replied on X: ‘Do u wanna be a ig model or wnba player pick one at this point’.
Reese fired back: ‘Well no i’ll never pick because my dream job doesn’t pay me enough while my side job pays me 7 figures’.
The ongoing WNBA civil war began after Collier, a five-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year, sharply criticized Engelbert for being ‘negligent’.
‘We have the best league in the world,’ Collier told reporters in a four-minute prepared statement days after Minnesota fell to the Phoenix Mercury in the semifinals. ‘We have the best fans in the world. But we have the worst leadership in the world.’
‘Year after year, the only thing that remains consistent is the lack of accountability from our leaders.’
In addition to blasting the league’s officiating, Collier also revealed a private conversation between herself and Engelbert about Clark’s five-figure salary.
‘Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16million off the court, because without the platform that WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything,’ Collier alleged Engelbert as saying.
The maximum salary in the WNBA is just short of $250,000, which led Collier and Breanna Stewart to co-found the Unrivaled league, which promised players a minimum six-figure salary during a nine-week winter season upon its launch this year.
In a statement, Engelbert responded to Collier’s remarks: ‘I have the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA.
‘Together we have all worked tirelessly to transform this league. My focus remains on ensuring a bright future for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating on how we continue to elevate the game.
‘I am disheartened by how Napheesa characterized our conversations and league leadership, but even when our perspectives differ, my commitment to the players and to this work will not waver.’
Collier’s comments came after she was injured in the closing moments of her Minnesota Lynx’s postseason loss to the Phoenix Mercury after a controversial no-call.
‘The league has a buzzword that they’ve rolled out as talking points for the CBA as to why they can’t pay the players what we’re worth,’ Collier said.
‘That word is sustainability. But what’s truly unsustainable is keeping a good product on the floor while allowing officials to lose control of games.
‘Fans see it every night. Coaches, both winning and losing, point it out every night in pre-game and post-game media.
‘Yet leadership just issues fines and looks the other way. They ignore the issues that everyone inside the game is begging to be fixed. That is negligence.’
