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Stephen A Smith calls for WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s ousting amid Napheesa Collier’s criticism

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Stephen A Smith calls for WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s ousting amid Napheesa Collier’s criticism


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During her end-of-season media availability on Tuesday, Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier expressed her grievances with the WNBA’s leadership.

Collier criticized league Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, suggesting she had been “negligent” in her stewardship. “We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world, but right now we have the worst leadership in the world,” Collier said in a prepared statement.

Commentator Stephen A. Smith backed Collier and urged Engelbert to resign from her leadership role. “I want to know how the hell somebody said something like that about you as the commissioner,” Smith said on the latest edition of ESPN’s “First Take.”

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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks at a news conference before Game 1 of basketball’s WNBA Finals between the Connecticut Sun and the Washington Mystics, in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

“Whether it was David Stern or Adam Silver or Roger Goodell or Paul Tagliabue, could you imagine? Imagine a commissioner being called out like that directly, and that timid, tepid statement. She looks guilty as hell. And then I’m looking at it, I’m saying, Did you really say that? Did you really say that Caitlin Clark should thank the heavenly stars that she wouldn’t be worth anything if she wasn’t playing in the WNBA? Did you really say that? I’m sitting back on like this girl … I’m listening, because she got very, very specific.”

LYNX’S NAPHEESA COLLIER RAILS AGAINST WNBA LEADERSHIP, CALLS FOR OFFICIATING CHANGES

Smith also suggested Engelbert had positioned herself in such a manner that she would be unable to negotiate in good faith going forward. The looming offseason will likely be defined by the outcome of collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the league and the players’ association.

“And for the commissioner to come back with that, you can’t have her at the negotiating table talking to players, basically Collier said she’s in the way of our growth and our development as a league, not just on the player side, but on the league side. She’s not good for basketball. Nobody questioned Cathy Engelbert’s business acumen now, because we know she knows business … At the end of the day, you have a star player in the league saying the commissioner, this individual, is in the way of all of us. And that was her statement. I believe she should hand in her resignation.”

Stephen A. Smith in 2021

Stephen A. Smith looks on before a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics on Nov. 19, 2021, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Collier, the vice president of the WNBPA, rebuked Engelbert on several fronts. She expressed frustration over WNBA officiating, citing the injury she suffered in the Lynx’s semifinal series against the Phoenix Mercury. Referees did not whistle Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for a foul after she made contact with Collier. The non-call prompted a strong reaction from Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve.

After an on-court confrontation with officials, Reeve was ejected. She was later fined by the WNBA for criticizing referees and accusing leadership of committing “malpractice” for allowing the officials to call the playoff game.

Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve courtside

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve looks on in the third quarter of their game against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena on Aug. 2, 2025. (Candice Ward/ Imagn Images)

“If this is what the league wants, OK, but I want to call for a change of leadership at the league level when it comes to officiating,” Reeve said after the Lynx’s 84-76 loss last Friday. “The officiating crew that we had tonight, for the leadership to deem those three people semifinal-playoff worthy, it’s f—ing malpractice.”

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Engelbert has been commissioner since 2019.

On Tuesday, the WNBA announced it reached an 11-year media rights deal with USA Network. The agreement gives the cable network the broadcast rights to at least 50 games per season beginning in 2026. USA will also carry select playoff games and the WNBA Finals.

The WNBA and NBA previously announced an 11-year agreement with NBCUniversal, The Walt Disney Co. and Amazon.

“Partnering with VERSANT and USA Network marks another significant milestone for the WNBA’s continued growth,” Engelbert said in part in a statement. Earlier this year, NBC Universal unveiled plans to spin off USA Network and other cable assets into a new company, which is expected to be called Versant.

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The running man: Josh Allen on cusp of QB history

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The running man: Josh Allen on cusp of QB history


Josh Allen recorded a season-high three rushing touchdowns — and three passing TDs, for good measure — in the Buffalo Bills44-32 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11, giving him 75 for his career.

Only three times in NFL history, including the postseason, has a quarterback had three passing and three rushing touchdowns in a game. Allen has done it twice (last year in a Week 14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams), and Otto Graham did it once in 1954.

Now in his eighth season, Allen is tied with Cam Newton for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in NFL history. One more, and the record is his alone.

However, Allen’s Week 12 opponent, the Houston Texans, is one of three teams to not allow a rushing score to an opposing quarterback this season (the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts are the others). Allen is -120 to score a touchdown Thursday night.

So, will he break the record in Week 12? Or will we have to wait? We asked our betting analysts for their predictions.

Will he break the record against the Texans?

Matt Bowen: Yes. Allen’s rushing usage in the low red zone is up, as he has five goal-to-go carries over his past three games. Look for that to continue Thursday, with Allen being deployed on designed run concepts in scoring position versus the Texans.

Eric Karabell: Yes, he will score. Sure, the Texans play strong defense. Allen can’t be defended at the goal line.

Pamela Maldonado: Yes. When Houston locks down the pass near the goal line, Allen is usually a run-it-in-himself kind of guy.

Seth Walder: Yes. Allen is always a threat to score, but he might need to rely on his scrambling ability more than usual against the elite Texans pass rush that could get after him in a hurry. Plus, it’s already high-leverage season for the Bills — who still have a shot at the No. 1 seed if they can go on a run — so they need every lever available to get a win, including relying on Allen’s legs.

Buffalo’s remaining schedule after Thursday’s game: @PIT, CIN, @NE, @CLE, PHI, NYJ



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2026 World Cup draw: Top seeds revealed in latest FIFA rankings

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2026 World Cup draw: Top seeds revealed in latest FIFA rankings


The top-seeded teams for the Dec. 5 World Cup tournament draw, including Germany but not Croatia, were set Wednesday when FIFA published new rankings the day after four continents completed qualifying.

Co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico will be joined in the pot of No. 1 seeds by top-ranked Spain, defending champions Argentina, France, England, Portugal, Brazil, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

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Croatia, semifinalists in 2022 and beaten finalists by France in 2018, were edged down into Pot 2 for the draw ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., which President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend.

The updated FIFA rankings also decided seeding for the draw Thursday for playoff brackets in March that will decide the final six entries in the expanded 48-nation lineup.

The 22 playoff teams include 16 in Europe playing for four World Cup places and six from the other regions chasing two spots in the intercontinental brackets.

Italy are the headliner in the European brackets as the four-time world champions aim to avoid a humiliating third straight exit in the playoffs.

The 12th-ranked Italians were pushed into the playoffs after finishing as runners-up in a qualifying group won by Norway. Erling Haaland‘s Norwegian team shapes up as a dangerous option from Pot 3 in two weeks’ time.

Italy will be drawn Thursday at home against a fourth-seeded team. That could again be North Macedonia, who shockingly eliminated the Italians in 2022.

The winner on March 26 advances to a playoff final five days later against the team that emerges from the No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed pairing in its knockout bracket. Home advantage in the single-game playoff finals will be decided by the draw Thursday and not FIFA ranking.

The teams that eventually emerge from the four separate European playoff brackets are expected to be placeholders from low-ranked Pot 4 in the Dec. 5 draw.

The intercontinental brackets will see top-seeded Iraq and Congo each await the winner of playoff semifinals that involve Bolivia, Jamaica, New Caledonia and Suriname.

European playoffs seedings

Pot 1: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine.

Pot 2: Poland, Wales, Czechia, Slovakia.

Pot 3: Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo.

Pot 4: Northern Ireland, Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia.

Intercontinental playoffs

Seeded: Congo, Iraq.

Unseeded: Bolivia, Jamaica, New Caledonia, Suriname.



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Brazil explain Estêvão-Lucas Paquetá penalty miss drama

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Brazil explain Estêvão-Lucas Paquetá penalty miss drama


Chelsea winger Estêvão said he followed orders and allowed teammate Lucas Paquetá to take Brazil‘s second penalty in Tuesday’s 1-1 friendly draw with Tunisia.

Estêvão, 18, had converted a penalty in the 44th minute of the encounter in Lille, France, to level the score, 1-1.

When Brazil were awarded another spot-kick in the 77th minute, substitute Paquetá and not Estêvão was chosen by coach Carlo Ancelotti to take it. The West Ham star struck his attempt over the crossbar.

“It was an order that came,” Estêvão said.

“I really wanted to take the spot-kick but the order came in. I supported my teammate so he could score the goal. Unfortunately, he missed, but heads held high, we have to train, improve because in a World Cup we have to take advantage of these opportunities.”

Ancelotti explained his decision.

“For the second penalty, I changed penalty taker because I wanted to take some of the pressure off Estêvão, so I put Paquetá in, who usually takes them very well,” Ancelotti said after the game.

Paquetá apologised for the penalty miss.

“I apologise for the missed penalty,” he said. “I’m sad. We probably would have won with that penalty. I’m very used to scoring at my club, I have great successes. Unfortunately, my anxiety to score made me make a decision before that final touch, so I think that’s what took me away from taking the penalty as I usually do and I ended up not converting it.

“I’ll try to put myself in those circumstances to improve in that sense, to convert in the next opportunity and help the team.”

While Brazil ended the year without a win, Estêvão focused on the positives.

Estêvão joined Chelsea from Palmeiras for £29 million ($38.6m) in the summer and quickly adapted to life in the Premier League.

– Neymar given fitness deadline for World Cup by Brazil boss
Lucas Paquetá eyes West Ham exit after 2026 World Cup – sources

He has scored five goals in 11 appearances for Brazil.

“It’s been a very special year,” he said. “I don’t think I had many ups and downs, but I was able to handle everything that happened. Being here with the national team means that the work has been done well at the club and at home, so I’m very happy to represent the national team.

“Obviously, we always come here to help, and I’m very happy about that.”



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