Stephen A. Smith goes off on WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert on First Take, telling her to resign after Napheesa Collier and Asia Wilson called her out.
When Stephen A. Smith speaks, the sports world listens. And this time, he didn’t just raise his voice—he went all in, blasting WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on First Take, straight up telling her to resign.
This comes on the heels of Napheesa Collier’s powerful statement that shook the league, and now Asia Wilson has jumped in, publicly calling Engelbert’s comments “disgusting.” What we’re seeing right now is nothing short of a league-wide rebellion against Cathy’s leadership.
Stephen A. Drops the Hammer
On First Take, Stephen A. didn’t hold back. He called Engelbert’s response to Collier “weak” and “timid,” saying:
“That was a weak ass statement. You need to resign. Period.”
He compared it to how David Stern or Adam Silver would never get away with such a lukewarm response if star players went after their integrity. And honestly, he’s right. When the commissioner gets called out by one of the league’s most respected stars—and then answers with a lifeless statement about “mischaracterization”—that doesn’t fly.
Stephen A. even revealed that he invited Engelbert onto his show to explain herself, but so far, silence. And in the court of public opinion, silence is guilt.
Asia Wilson Joins Napheesa Collier
If Napheesa’s words cracked the wall, Asia Wilson just smashed it down. After her game, Asia straight up said she was “disgusted” by Engelbert’s comments.
Wilson made it clear she’s riding with Collier, calling her one of the voices that will push the league forward. That’s a two-time MVP siding with Collier against the commissioner. And when Asia speaks, players listen.
This is no longer a single-player vs. commissioner story—it’s a full-on players’ revolt.
Coaches & Players Turning on Engelbert
It’s not just Fee and Asia. Coaches like Stephanie White and players like Lexie Hull have backed Collier’s stance. Now, the locker rooms and sidelines are uniting against Engelbert.
When your own stars and coaches are openly calling you out—and you’re giving nothing but flat press statements—you’ve lost the room. Period.
Stephen A.’s Bigger Point
Stephen A. didn’t just stop at the statement. He brought up real issues:
- Player salaries have improved since Engelbert took over, but it’s still not enough.
- The media rights deal sounds good, but if the money doesn’t reach the players, it means nothing.
- Safety issues and physical play are being ignored because “controversy” draws viewers.
And that last point is big. Injuries piling up, physical fouls getting shrugged off—it looks like the league is choosing drama over protecting its athletes.
The Optics Are Terrible
Think about it:
- Napheesa Collier called out Engelbert.
- Asia Wilson backed her.
- Coaches and teammates are chiming in.
- Now, Stephen A. Smith—one of the loudest, most influential voices in sports media—says she should resign.
That’s a storm you don’t walk through quietly. Cathy needed a press conference, she needed fire, she needed to defend her name. Instead, she dropped a two-sentence “mischaracterization” statement that basically waved the white flag.
And now? The players own the narrative.
Where This Leaves the WNBA
The timing couldn’t be worse. The current CBA is about to expire at the end of October, and negotiations are already heated. If Engelbert can’t even stand toe-to-toe with the league’s biggest stars in public, how is she supposed to lead those negotiations?
Players don’t trust her. Coaches don’t trust her. Fans are siding with the players. That’s a disaster heading into talks that will shape the future of the WNBA.
My Take
Stephen A. Smith said out loud what everyone was thinking: Cathy Engelbert’s leadership is on life support.
If the players don’t believe in her, if the coaches are doubting her, and now if the public is openly laughing at her responses—then yeah, it might be time to step aside.
At some point, the WNBA needs a commissioner who can handle the heat, who can rally players and fans, not divide them. And right now, Engelbert looks like she’s already lost.
The league is on the verge of its biggest growth moment ever—with Caitlin Clark, record ratings, and major TV deals—and the last thing it can afford is a commissioner that players don’t respect.
Final Word
Stephen A. lit the match, but Napheesa Collier, Asia Wilson, and the rest of the league poured gasoline on the fire. Cathy Engelbert is standing in the middle of a blaze with no exit strategy.
So here’s the real question:
Will she resign before she’s pushed out? Or will the WNBA players force the league’s hand?
Because right now, the writing is on the wall.
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