Adam Silver Confirms Labor Agreement in the WNBA Despite Tensions
STAMFORD, Conn. – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has confirmed that a new collective bargaining agreement will be reached with WNBA players, although he acknowledged the need to repair relationships following recent criticism of Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. These tensions reached their peak last week, when Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier expressed strong criticism of the league’s leadership. These statements threatened to overshadow the WNBA Finals between Las Vegas and Phoenix, which began shortly after.Engelbert has also stated that a new agreement will be reached, although not necessarily before the October 31 deadline. League and players’ association negotiators were expected to meet this week. The players are seeking significant changes after 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, who was runner-up in the league’s MVP voting. Silver acknowledged that, while Engelbert has overseen historic growth in the league, there are issues that need to be addressed with the players, not only economic ones, but also those related to relationships. He expressed confidence that they will be able to solve these problems over time and that the league will be able to 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 Basketball Players Association, experienced a similar situation in 2011, when the league and the union failed to reach an agreement on time, resulting in a lockout that reduced the season to 66 games. Fisher commented that it is unusual to see someone express themselves as Collier did during the negotiations, but he understood the reason.“There’s no doubt the WNBA is experiencing growing pains, and it’s unfortunate that this is happening right when their most important games and the Finals are being played,” Silver stated on Monday. “We’ve had two fantastic games so far, and we want to celebrate the game right now, and then we’ll have to sit down with the players and negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement.”
Adam Silver
Silver insisted they would reach an agreement. “We will reach an agreement with the players,” he affirmed. “There is much work to be done, but of course, we will achieve a new collective bargaining agreement.” Fisher sensed that WNBA players feel they haven’t been valued enough and that there is a disconnect with the league’s management. Fisher added that the players feel that they do not want the things that have happened in the last 27 years to happen again. They do not want to leave future generations in the same position they were in when they had no influence.“It’s not normal, but those were the feelings many times,” said Fisher, who also coached in the WNBA and will be one of NBC’s analysts for their NBA coverage.
Derek Fisher
