Silver Confirms WNBA Deal, Acknowledges Tensions and Questions Leadership

Adam Silver Confirms Collective Bargaining Agreement in the WNBA, Acknowledging Challenges

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has assured that a new collective bargaining agreement will be reached with the WNBA players. However, Silver acknowledged the need to address and repair existing relationship issues, following recent criticism directed at Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. These issues reached their peak last week, when Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier expressed harsh criticism of the league’s leadership.

“The league has the worst leadership in the world”.

Napheesa Collier

Silver commented that the WNBA is experiencing challenges inherent to its growth and regretted that this is happening during the final phase of the season. He highlighted the importance of celebrating the game at this moment and the need to negotiate a new collective agreement with the players. Commissioner Engelbert has also expressed confidence in reaching an agreement, although not necessarily before the October 31 deadline. Negotiators from the league and the players’ association are expected to meet in the coming days. The players are seeking significant changes following the enormous growth of the WNBA in recent seasons, and some have expressed their frustration with Engelbert, although not with the same intensity as Collier. Silver noted that, while Engelbert has led historic growth in the league, there are issues that need to be addressed, including economic and relationship aspects. He expressed confidence that these problems will be resolved over time and that the league will continue its upward trajectory. Silver made these statements at NBC Sports headquarters, where the network’s return to broadcasting the league this season was discussed. NBC will also televise the WNBA Finals in 2026. Derek Fisher, former Lakers player and former president of the National Basketball Players Association, commented that it is unusual to see such a direct expression as Collier’s during the negotiations, but he understood the reasons.

“It’s not normal, but those were the feelings many times.”

Derek Fisher

Fisher also mentioned that high-level negotiations often generate distrust and misunderstandings due to poor communication. However, he emphasized that until an agreement is reached, there is an adversarial nature. Silver reiterated his commitment to reach an agreement with the players, acknowledging that there is still much work to be done, but assuring that a new collective bargaining agreement will be reached. Fisher senses that WNBA players feel they haven’t been valued enough and that there is a disconnect with the league’s management. Fisher believes the WNBA could have reached this point sooner. He highlighted that players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have re-energized growth, but emphasized that the league has always been special. The players feel they cannot allow certain past situations to be repeated.