LOS ANGELES – The relationship between Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) star forward Napheesa Collier and league commissioner Cathy Engelbert apparently hit another setback, with the player cancelling a meeting scheduled for next week, ESPN reported on Oct 4.

Collier criticised Engelbert and the league in a news conference on Sept 30, saying they have “the worst leadership in the world” and accusing her of making disparaging comments about star players and not taking officiating seriously.

Still, Collier later texted Engelbert that she was open to more discussion.

Engelbert made an initial statement later on Sept 30, then spoke at length at a news conference on Oct 3 about Collier’s comments and accepted some responsibility for players’ disapproval of her performance.

However, labelling Collier’s version of a private conversation they had in February as full of inaccuracies has “pretty much pushed the relationship beyond repair,” one source told ESPN.

Engelbert had not been notified that the meeting was cancelled as of early evening on Oct 4, a league spokesperson told ESPN.

Collier is a Women’s National Basketball Players Association vice-president, along with a star on the Minnesota Lynx, and her voice carried extra heft amid the backdrop of a collective bargaining agreement that is set to expire Oct 31.

Engelbert stated on Sept 30 that she was “disheartened by how Napheesa characterised our conversations and league leadership.” However, on Oct 3, during her annual news conference before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, she made an effort to speak highly of the players and sought to make amends.

Collier said she asked Engelbert how she would address the issue of young superstars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers earning very little on their rookie contracts while generating huge revenue for the league.

“Her response was, ‘Caitlin should be grateful she makes US$16 million off the cou...