LAS VEGAS (AP) — WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert typically highlights the league's successes over the past season at her annual state of the league address. This year's speech might be a little different. Engelbert will speak Friday night ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals for the first time since Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier’s blistering assessment that the league has “the worst leadership in the world" with a commissioner who lacks accountability.

The best-of-seven championship series between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury in many ways is being overshadowed by the off-court issues facing Engelbert and the league. Engelbert is in the midst of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement that the players say aren't going well. There's a deadline of Oct. 31 to g

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