Candace Parker Doesn’t Hold Back on WNBA Commissioner

While the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury battle for supremacy, the narrative surrounding the WNBA Finals has been largely overshadowed by contract talks and public fractures.

An influx of player criticism over the past week — led by Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier, who said the league has "the worst leadership in the world" — has spurred a tense back-and-forth between players and league leadership that centers around commissioner Cathy Engelbert, the pending collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and the NBA’s supervisory role.

Engelbert addressed the issues publicly before Game 1 of the finals, denying some reported private comments and saying, "If the players in the 'W' don't feel appreciated and value from the league, we have to do better and I have to do better," promising to repair relationships.

Now, WNBA legend Candace Parker has weighed in, speaking out about Engelbert's leadership and the role of NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Wednesday's episode of her "Post Moves" podcast with the Indiana Fever's Aliyah Boston.

"I'll tell you this. I signed a deal with Amazon to broadcast for Amazon. I got a text from Adam Silver saying congratulations. I had my third child, and I got a text from Adam Silver about my third child," Parker said. "Actually, I got a baby gift for my third child. I get a Christmas gift from Adam Silver every year. I retired, Adam Silver sent me a text message that basically congratulated me on my career and how much I've done for the women's game and he looked forward to how much I'm going to do from the sideline. I have not heard from Cathy [Engelbert].

"You heard Sabrina Ionescu allude to this, 'I've got a better relationship with Adam Silver than I do with Cathy [Engelbert].' ... I understand that Cathy represents the owners," Parker added. "However, you still have to have a relationship and be able to reach across the aisle to the players, and I don't know if anybody can say that she's done a great job at that."