If there's one thing that defines WNBA players, it's their fearlessness to demand what they feel they deserve

The powerful and continuous growth of women's sport is a movement. Among the thriving professional sports leagues is the WNBA, which presents as successful with its extraordinarily famous players, colourful personalities, expansion teams, sold-out stadiums, and high merchandise sales.

But the W (as it is known by fans) is far from perfect. The championship final of the WNBA playoffs is being overshadowed by drama off the court and a less-than-perfect league management. 

Those imperfections made themselves visible when Minnesota's Lynx star Napheesa Collier laid into WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert during a post-game interview on Sept. 30. The Lynx had just lost an emotionally charged Game 4 to the Phoenix Mercury which eliminated them from the semifinals. Collier sustained two leg injuries in the playoffs, but it didn't prevent her from hobbling to the press conference in a fracture boot to speak her truth to power. 

Napheesa Collier’s full statement today, where she challenged Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the WNBA with directness and stunning detail we rarely hear from active players. Worth listening to every word. <a href="https://t.co/IRTvTc52EA">pic.twitter.com/IRTvTc52EA</a>

"We have the best league in the world. We have the best fans in the world. But we have the worst leadership in the world," Collier said. "Year after year, the only thing that remains consistent is the lack of accountability from our leaders."

Collier went on to reveal negative comments made by Engelbert about Indianapolis star Caitlin Clark during conversations in February, and explained there was a "lack of accountability," terrible officiating and a lack of basic human interest in favour of profit. Her comments blazed through a silent