Silver Confirms WNBA CBA Agreement: Challenges and Growth in the Women’s League

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 acknowledged the need to solve certain problems in the relationships following recent criticisms directed at Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. These tensions reached their peak last week, when Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier expressed her discontent with the league’s leadership, statements that threatened to overshadow the WNBA Finals between Las Vegas and Phoenix. The WNBA is experiencing challenges inherent in its growth, and it’s unfortunate that this is happening right when the most important games of the season and the Finals are being played. We’ve had two fantastic games so far, and we want to celebrate the game at this moment, but 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 this week. The players are seeking significant changes due to 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 award.

Cathy Engelbert has led historic growth in the league, but there is no doubt that there are problems we must address with our players, not just economic ones. There are also relationship problems. I am confident that we can solve them over time and that this league will be able to continue on the upward trajectory it is currently on.

Adam Silver

Silver made these statements at the 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 NBA Basketball Players Association in 2011, when an agreement was not reached in time and a lockout reduced the season to 66 games, commented that it is 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 NBA game analyst for NBC, added:

It’s not the norm, but those were the feelings many times. Whenever you’re in the heat of high-stakes negotiations, conversations, and discussions, 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

Silver insisted that an agreement would be reached.

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

Fisher senses that WNBA players feel they haven’t been valued enough and that there is a disconnect with the league’s administration. Fisher added that, in his opinion, the WNBA could have reached this point sooner.