Adam Silver Confirms WNBA CBA Agreement, Acknowledges Tensions and Growth

Adam Silver Confirms Agreement with WNBA Players Despite Tensions

STAMFORD, Conn. – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has confirmed that a new collective bargaining agreement will be reached with the WNBA players, although he acknowledged the need to repair relations following recent criticism of Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. These tensions reached their peak last week, when Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier declared that the league has “the worst leadership in the world.” These statements threatened to overshadow the WNBA Finals between Las Vegas and Phoenix, which began days later.

“There’s no doubt the WNBA is going through growing pains, and it’s unfortunate that this is happening right when its most important games and Finals are underway,” Silver said.

Adam Silver

Engelbert has also expressed his confidence that a new agreement will be reached, although not necessarily before the October 31 deadline. League and players’ association negotiators are 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 runner-up in the league’s MVP voting.

“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,” Silver stated. “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 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 on time, resulting in a lockout that reduced the season to 66 games. Fisher commented that it was unusual to see someone express themselves the way Collier did during the negotiation, but he understood the reason. Fisher, who has also coached in the WNBA and will be one of NBC’s analysts for NBA coverage, stated:

“It’s not the norm, but those were the feelings many times. Whenever you’re in the heat of high-stakes negotiations and conversations, sometimes it gets to the level of distrust, misunderstandings due to miscommunication or poor communication. But, ultimately, until an agreement is reached, there’s a very confrontational nature until you’re back together.”

Derek Fisher

Silver insisted they would reach an agreement.

“We will reach an agreement with the players,” he said. “There is still much work to be done, but, of course, we will obtain a new collective bargaining agreement.”

Adam Silver

Fisher believes that WNBA players feel they haven’t been valued enough and that there is a disconnect with the league’s management. “I think the W could have been at this point before,” Fisher said. “Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese kind of reaccelerated the growth, but this league has always been a special league. And I think the players are just saying we can’t allow some of the things that have taken place in our 27-year history. We don’t want to leave the girls of the next 20 years in the position we were in when we had no leverage.”