***The Official 2025 WNBA Playoffs Thread***

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Re: ***The Official 202[emoji2[emoji2391]9[emoji2391]] WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#241 » by ellobo » Tue Sep 30, 2025 9:22 pm

sikma42 wrote:
MrDollarBills wrote:
sikma42 wrote:
Not a big fan of Cathy. And criticisms have merit. But it all goes back to the conflict of interest and I don't think she is operating in the best interest of the WNBA and because of that I'm starting to move her into the "shady" category.

The fact that she mentioned Unrivaled and her husbands leadership + private conversations just makes me it sound a bit icky. I know im in the minority here.


Unrivaled was created for this very reason in my opinion.


Yea, and operating this way can be deemed shady regardless of the purpose. I think she wants a lock out and wants to the potential benefits that come with that for Unrivialed. But using her WNBA platform to push up Unrivialed and push down the WNBA, bring up the CBA etc...well imo it's just nasty work and there should be swift ramifications.

Cathy is bad and changes need to be made. This wasnt about that. It was about Unrivaled.

Do you think her husband and Unrivaled needed to mentioned in this prepared speech?


I am of the belief that Unrivaled increases the players' leverage in negotiations with the WNBA and therefore will benefit all the players. It certainly benefits the substantial number of players who play in Unrivaled and don't have to go overseas in the "off season," but it benefits everyone. And I think the frustration with Cathy is widespread (if not downright universal) among the rank and file, which is why players are making a point to show public support for Phee.

I had no problem with Phee mentioning her husband and Unrivaled because the context was seeing league administration from the inside and contrasting good administration with bad administration. I did not get the impression that she was trying to promote Unrivaled as an entity (she only briefly mentioned it), but just using it to establish a position of relevant knowledge to highlight the player-unfriendly stance of WNBA leadership.
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Re: ***The Official 2025 WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#242 » by MrDollarBills » Tue Sep 30, 2025 9:25 pm

Phee's statement basically alluded to these things being discussed behind closed doors and the league was dismissive.

So if the league isn't listening to legitimate concerns behind closed doors, why is Phee wrong for going public with this?

Women should be seen and not heard is something I don't subscribe to (not that you guys said this, sikma, green). What Phee did today took serious guts and might go down as something that people look back at 5 years from now as a necessity.

I'll tell you both one thing. Her sister players' response to her comments are a lot different from how its being taken on here on our quiet little forum.
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Re: ***The Official 202[emoji2[emoji2391]9[emoji2391]] WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#243 » by sikma42 » Tue Sep 30, 2025 9:29 pm

ellobo wrote:
sikma42 wrote:
MrDollarBills wrote:
Unrivaled was created for this very reason in my opinion.


Yea, and operating this way can be deemed shady regardless of the purpose. I think she wants a lock out and wants to the potential benefits that come with that for Unrivialed. But using her WNBA platform to push up Unrivialed and push down the WNBA, bring up the CBA etc...well imo it's just nasty work and there should be swift ramifications.

Cathy is bad and changes need to be made. This wasnt about that. It was about Unrivaled.

Do you think her husband and Unrivaled needed to mentioned in this prepared speech?


I am of the belief that Unrivaled increases the players' leverage in negotiations with the WNBA and therefore will benefit all the players. It certainly benefits the substantial number of players who play in Unrivaled and don't have to go overseas in the "off season," but it benefits everyone. And I think the frustration with Cathy is widespread (if not downright universal) among the rank and file, which is why players are making a point to show public support for Phee.

I had no problem with Phee mentioning her husband and Unrivaled because the context was seeing league administration from the inside and contrasting good administration with bad administration. I did not get the impression that she was trying to promote Unrivaled as an entity (she only briefly mentioned it), but just using it to establish a position of relevant knowledge to highlight the player-unfriendly stance of WNBA leadership.


Exclusivity is certainly negotiating point in the CBA. The revenue percentage the players get will likely be effected by this. So if the goal is to get the WNBA players (and I mean all the WNBA players - not just those invited to be in Unrivaled - which are also chosen by Collier) the most $, it's likely that Unrivaled and WNBAPA aren't aligned in their interests.
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***The Official 202[emoji2[emoji2391]9[emoji2391]] WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#244 » by sikma42 » Tue Sep 30, 2025 9:33 pm

MrDollarBills wrote:Phee's statement basically alluded to these things being discussed behind closed doors and the league was dismissive.

So if the league isn't listening to legitimate concerns behind closed doors, why is Phee wrong for going public with this?

Women should be seen and not heard is something I don't subscribe to (not that you guys said this, sikma, green). What Phee did today too serious guts and might go down as something that people look back at [emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]]] years from now as a necessity.

I'll tell you both one thing. Her sister players' response to her comments are a lot different from how its being taken on here on our quiet little forum.

Tbf, I don’t really base my opinions on what the majority think. I also don’t particularly appreciate even mentioning the mindset you alluded to.

My critique comes from my background (I do conflicts work) and this just seems wild to me. That has been my issue from the beginning of this. I also want the WNBA to succeed.


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Re: ***The Official 202[emoji2[emoji2391]9[emoji2391]] WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#245 » by ellobo » Tue Sep 30, 2025 9:37 pm

sikma42 wrote:
ellobo wrote:
sikma42 wrote:
Yea, and operating this way can be deemed shady regardless of the purpose. I think she wants a lock out and wants to the potential benefits that come with that for Unrivialed. But using her WNBA platform to push up Unrivialed and push down the WNBA, bring up the CBA etc...well imo it's just nasty work and there should be swift ramifications.

Cathy is bad and changes need to be made. This wasnt about that. It was about Unrivaled.

Do you think her husband and Unrivaled needed to mentioned in this prepared speech?


I am of the belief that Unrivaled increases the players' leverage in negotiations with the WNBA and therefore will benefit all the players. It certainly benefits the substantial number of players who play in Unrivaled and don't have to go overseas in the "off season," but it benefits everyone. And I think the frustration with Cathy is widespread (if not downright universal) among the rank and file, which is why players are making a point to show public support for Phee.

I had no problem with Phee mentioning her husband and Unrivaled because the context was seeing league administration from the inside and contrasting good administration with bad administration. I did not get the impression that she was trying to promote Unrivaled as an entity (she only briefly mentioned it), but just using it to establish a position of relevant knowledge to highlight the player-unfriendly stance of WNBA leadership.


Exclusivity is certainly negotiating point in the CBA. The revenue percentage the players get will likely be effected by this. So if the goal is to get the WNBA players (and I mean all the WNBA players - not just those invited to be in Unrivaled - which are also chosen by Collier) the most $, it's likely that Unrivaled and WNBAPA aren't aligned in their interests.


Well, the way to get exclusivity is to pay for it. The league can't cry poverty, deficits, and unsustainability, and then just unilaterally demand exclusivity. I mean, they can...if the players have no alternative.
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Re: ***The Official 2025 WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#246 » by BlacJacMac » Tue Sep 30, 2025 9:42 pm

The Athletic has their story on it up now.

Napheesa Collier calls out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert: ‘Worst leadership in the world’

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6677183/2025/09/30/napheesa-collier-lynx-cathy-engelbert-wnba-leadership
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Re: ***The Official 2025 WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#247 » by MrDollarBills » Tue Sep 30, 2025 9:46 pm

Dallas just fired the yoga instructor. Today is wild
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Re: ***The Official 2025 WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#248 » by Green Chile » Tue Sep 30, 2025 9:53 pm

I hope it's never seen as anti-Phee.
I love her and everything she said was absolutely correct.
And, again, I hate the NBA's ownership of this league.

But on the issue of officiating and injuries.....Unrivaled maybe isn't a great comparison.

Her husband may be great at listening to concerns, but the officiating sucked and Unrivaled was ravaged by injuries. I watched every Unrivaled game, loved it. But it all eventually came down to who could find enough healthy players to field a roster.
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Re: ***The Official 2025 WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#249 » by Green Chile » Tue Sep 30, 2025 9:55 pm

Unrivaled took out BLH, which took out the LIberty.

And BLH only showed up to Unrivaled because the rest of the league was destroyed by injuries.

Love Phee, and agree with her.

But let's not think hubby solved all the problems in the world.
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Re: ***The Official 2025 WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#250 » by Ghetto Gospel » Tue Sep 30, 2025 10:02 pm

fire cathy engelbert
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Re: ***The Official 2025 WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#251 » by Doctor MJ » Tue Sep 30, 2025 10:21 pm

BlacJacMac wrote:The Athletic has their story on it up now.

Napheesa Collier calls out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert: ‘Worst leadership in the world’

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6677183/2025/09/30/napheesa-collier-lynx-cathy-engelbert-wnba-leadership


Didn't see this before. Just made a thread. Will probably need to consolidate Labor threads, but yeah, yikes!
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Re: ***The Official 2025 WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#252 » by BlacJacMac » Tue Sep 30, 2025 10:37 pm

Doctor MJ wrote:
BlacJacMac wrote:The Athletic has their story on it up now.

Napheesa Collier calls out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert: ‘Worst leadership in the world’

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6677183/2025/09/30/napheesa-collier-lynx-cathy-engelbert-wnba-leadership


Didn't see this before. Just made a thread. Will probably need to consolidate Labor threads, but yeah, yikes!


Definitely deserving of its own thread.
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Re: ***The Official 2025 WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#253 » by Green Chile » Tue Sep 30, 2025 10:58 pm

Ghetto Gospel wrote:fire cathy engelbert


As long as the NBA owns the WNBA, there will always be another Cathy.
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Re: ***The Official 2025 WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#254 » by cdubbz » Wed Oct 1, 2025 1:42 am

Easy flagrant on Lloyd. Shocked it was called a common foul
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Re: ***The Official 2025 WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#255 » by MrDollarBills » Wed Oct 1, 2025 2:04 am

Green Chile wrote:
Ghetto Gospel wrote:fire cathy engelbert


As long as the NBA owns the WNBA, there will always be another Cathy.


Ok and that's fine. Why should the players be silent and not want better from a league that is exploiting them?

I really don't understand why people are now siding with the NBA over Phee's comments
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Re: ***The Official 2025 WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#256 » by Mephariel » Wed Oct 1, 2025 3:04 am

What is happening to Kelsey Mitchell? They are bringing in the stretcher.
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Re: ***The Official 202[emoji2[emoji2391]9[emoji2391]] WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#257 » by sikma42 » Wed Oct 1, 2025 3:10 am

So Boston just not gonna play anymore tonight


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***The Official 202[emoji2[emoji2391]9[emoji2391]] WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#258 » by sikma42 » Wed Oct 1, 2025 3:12 am

Delete

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Re: ***The Official 2025 WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#259 » by Mephariel » Wed Oct 1, 2025 3:33 am

Lexie Hull needs to get more involved on offensive. I am not sure why she is not taking more shots.
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Re: ***The Official 2025 WNBA Playoffs Thread*** 

Post#260 » by Mephariel » Wed Oct 1, 2025 3:37 am

What a game!

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