Napheesa Collier says her critique of the WNBA was 'a little dramatic,' but it worked

The women's pro basketball season begins May 8 without Napheesa Collier, who's recovering from surgery. Yet the Minnesota Lynx star's fingerprints are visible across the league. Collier played a notable role in negotiating a new contract that increased the players' share of WNBA revenues, just as those revenues have soared. The contract multiplied every player's salary to the point where the lowest-paid players in 2026 will be paid more than the highest-paid in 2025. Collier is the vice president of the players' union, the Women's National Basketball Players Association, and last year made a relentless public critique of league management. She said her statement was necessary in the run-up to the contract negotiations. Her off-court advocacy, as much as her on-court play, has made Collier the subject of fascination to fans. Some fit the WNBA negotiations into a proud history of women advocating for equality in sports, stretching back to Billie Jean King and beyond. In an NPR video interview, filmed at the Lynx practice center in Minneapolis, Minn., Collier talked about the new WNBA contract, the upcoming season and her future in basketball. You can watch Collier above. Below are highlights from our conversation. We were in one place where men's sports and women's sports are equal Collier spoke with us at The Courts at Mayo Clinic Square in Minneapolis — the practice facility shared by the Lynx and their affiliated men's team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. …