Apr 15, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Caitlin Clark poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the number one overall pick to the Indiana Fever during the 2024 WNBA Draft at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Lynx superstar forward Napheesa Collier made an explosive claim about WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert during her exit interview on Tuesday.

In an impassioned statement where she ripped the WNBA and Engelbert in particular over "negligence" in leadership, Collier made a particularly eye-opening allegation about Engelbert's feelings on superstar guard Caitlin Clark.

In her statement, Collier recalls asking Engelbert in the offseason why league superstars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers (not yet drafted at the time, but a major star set for a WNBA career) were making such little compensation on their rookie deals after driving so much revenue for the WNBA.

What did Engelbert allegedly say?

"Her response was, 'Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court because, without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn't make anything,'" Collier said Engelbert allegedly told her, per Zone Coverage reporter Andrew Dukowitz.

Someone in the press room let out an audible reaction to that particular alleged quote, and you can see why.

Those are absolutely harsh alleged sentiments toward the biggest player to take the court in the WNBA's history, and it tangles aggressively with the reality of what Clark's reach in particular has done for the league.

Has Clark responded? Has Engelbert?

We'll see how Engelbert responds to Collier's statement and that particular alleged anecdote, but we do know that Clark had no comment on the allegation.

What else did Collier say about Engelbert?

Engelbert allegedly also blasted critiques about WNBA officiating and made a pompous comment about desired player appreciation for the media rights deal Engelbert secured, per Collier.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Caitlin Clark allegedly belittled by WNBA commissioner in explosive remarks

Reporting by Cory Woodroof, For The Win / For The Win

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