Silver Confirms: New WNBA CBA on the Way, Despite Tensions with Players

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, although he admitted that there are relationship problems that must be addressed after the recent criticism of Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. These tensions reached their peak last week, when Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier expressed 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 a few days later.

“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 Finals are underway,” Silver commented. “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

Engelbert has also stated that a new agreement will be reached, although not necessarily before the October 31 deadline. The league and players’ association negotiators are expected to meet during 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 for the league’s MVP.

“Cathy Engelbert has presided over historic growth in the league, but there’s no doubt that there are issues we need to address with our players, not just economic ones,” Silver added. “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 on now.”

Adam Silver

Silver made these statements at NBC Sports headquarters, where the network’s return to broadcasting the league this season was discussed. The WNBA Finals will also be televised in 2026. Derek Fisher, former Lakers player, was president of the NBA 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. Fisher noted that it is uncommon to see someone express themselves as Collier did during the negotiations, but he understood the reason.

“It’s not the norm, but those were the feelings many times,” said Fisher, who also coached in the WNBA and will be one of NBC’s game analysts for their NBA coverage.

Derek Fisher

Silver insisted that an agreement would be reached.

“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.”

Adam Silver

Fisher indicated that he perceives 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 gotten to this point sooner,” Fisher said. “[Caitlin Clark] and [Angel Reese] kind of re-accelerated 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 influence.”