Adam Silver Confirms Labor Agreement with the WNBA Despite Tensions
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has assured that a new collective bargaining agreement will be reached with the WNBA players, although he acknowledged the need to repair relations after recent criticism of Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Tensions reached their peak last week when Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier expressed her opinion on the direction of the league. “There’s no question 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. “We’ve had two fantastic games so far, and we want to celebrate the game at this moment, and then we’ll have to sit down with the players and negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement.” Engelbert has also stated that a new agreement will be reached, although not necessarily before the October 31 deadline. Negotiators from the league and the players’ association were expected to meet this week. 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, who was the league’s MVP runner-up.Silver spoke at NBC Sports headquarters to discuss the network’s return to broadcasting the league this season. It will also televise the WNBA Finals in 2026. Derek Fisher, former Lakers player, was president of the National Basketball Players Association in 2011, when the league and the union failed to reach an agreement in time and a lockout reduced the season to 66 games. He said it was rare to see someone express themselves as Collier did during the negotiations, but he understood the reason.Cathy Engelbert has presided over historic growth in the league, but there is no doubt that there are issues we must address with our players, not just economic ones. There are also relationship issues. I am confident that we can solve them over time and that this league can continue on the upward trajectory it is currently on.
Adam Silver
Silver insisted they would reach an agreement.It’s not the norm, but those were the feelings many times. Whenever you’re in the heat of negotiations and high-level conversations, sometimes it gets to the level of distrust, misunderstandings due to poor communication. But, ultimately, until an agreement is reached, there’s a very adversarial nature until you come back together.
Derek Fisher
Fisher believes that WNBA players feel they haven’t been valued enough and that there’s a disconnect with the league’s management. Fisher mentioned that the league’s growth could have been faster and that players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have re-accelerated said growth, but that the league has always been special.We will reach an agreement with the players. There is much work to be done, but, of course, we will achieve a new collective bargaining agreement.
Adam Silver
