Silver Confirms WNBA CBA Agreement, Acknowledges Tensions with Players

Adam Silver Secures New Collective Bargaining Agreement in the WNBA Despite Tensions

STAMFORD, Conn. – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has stated that a new collective bargaining agreement will be reached with the WNBA players, although he acknowledged the need to repair relationships following recent criticism directed at Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Tensions reached their peak last week when Napheesa Collier, a Minnesota player, stated 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 question 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 said. “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 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 vehemence as Collier, who was runner-up in the voting for the league’s MVP. Silver commented that, while Engelbert has presided over historic growth in the league, there are problems that need to be addressed with the players, not only of an economic nature, but also of a relational one. He expressed confidence that they will be able to solve these problems and that the league will continue its upward trajectory. Silver made these statements at NBC Sports headquarters, where he discussed the network’s return to broadcasting the league this season, including the televised broadcast of the WNBA Finals in 2026. Derek Fisher, former Lakers player and president of the Basketball Players Association in 2011, when an agreement was not reached in time and a lockout shortened the season, said it was unusual to see someone express themselves as Collier did during the negotiations, but he understood the reason. Fisher, who has also been a coach in the WNBA and will be an analyst for NBA games for NBC, noted that, in high-stakes negotiation situations, a level of distrust and misunderstandings is reached due to poor communication. However, he emphasized that until an agreement is reached, the nature is adverse. Silver insisted that an agreement will be reached.

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

Adam Silver

Fisher intuits that the WNBA players feel they haven’t been valued enough and perceive a disconnect with the league’s management. Fisher expressed that the WNBA could have reached this point sooner. And although Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have re-accelerated growth, this league has always been special. The players feel that they cannot allow some of the situations that have occurred in the 27-year history of the league to be repeated, and they do not want to leave future generations in the same position they were in.