Adam Silver Confirms Agreement with WNBA: They Will Resolve Tensions and CBA

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

STAMFORD, Conn. – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has stated that a new collective bargaining agreement will be reached with the WNBA players. However, Silver acknowledged the need to resolve existing issues in the relationships following recent criticism of Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. These issues reached their peak last week when Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier expressed harsh criticism of the league’s leadership. These statements threatened to overshadow the WNBA Finals between Las Vegas and Phoenix.

“There’s no doubt the WNBA is experiencing difficulties in its growth, and it’s unfortunate that this is happening right when its most important games and the Finals are being played,” Silver said. “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.”

Adam Silver

Engelbert has also expressed his confidence that a new agreement will be reached, although not necessarily before the October 31 deadline. Negotiators from the league and the players’ association are expected to meet during the 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 vehemence as Collier, who was runner-up for the league’s MVP. Silver noted that, while Engelbert has overseen historic growth in the league, there are issues that need to be addressed with the players, not only in economic terms, but also in relationships. He expressed confidence that these problems can be solved over time and that the league will be able to continue its current upward trajectory. Silver made these statements at NBC Sports headquarters, where the network’s return to broadcasting the league this season was discussed, including the televised broadcast of the WNBA Finals in 2026. Derek Fisher, former Lakers player and former president of the Basketball Players Association, commented that it is unusual to see someone express themselves as Collier did during the negotiations, but understood the reason. Fisher is also a coach in the WNBA and will be an analyst for NBC.

“It’s not normal, but those were the feelings a lot of times,” Fisher said. “Whenever you’re in the middle of high-stakes negotiations and discussions, sometimes it gets to the level of distrust, misunderstandings due to lack of communication or miscommunication. But ultimately, until you get a deal done, there’s a very adversarial nature until you come back together.”

Derek Fisher

Silver insisted that an agreement would be reached. “We will reach an agreement with the players,” he stated. “There is much work to be done, but of course, we will achieve a new collective bargaining agreement.” Fisher also commented that he perceives that WNBA players feel they have not been valued enough and that there is a disconnect with the league’s management. “I think the W could have gotten to this point sooner,” Fisher said. The arrival of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has re-accelerated growth, but this league has always been special. So, I think the players are simply saying that we can’t allow some of the things that have taken place in our previous 27 years of history to continue to happen. We don’t want to leave the girls of the next 20 years in the position we were in when we had no influence.”