Silver Confirms WNBA CBA Agreement: Challenges in the Relationship with Players

Adam Silver Confirms Labor Agreement with WNBA Players

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has stated that a new collective bargaining agreement will be reached with the WNBA players. However, he acknowledged the need to resolve issues in the relationships, following recent criticism directed at Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. These problems reached a boiling point 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 days later.

There is no doubt that the WNBA is experiencing difficulties in its growth, and it is unfortunate that this is happening right when its most important games and the Finals are being played. We have had two fantastic games so far, and we want to celebrate the game at this moment, and then we will 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. Negotiators from the league and the players’ association were expected to meet during the 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 the league’s MVP runner-up. Silver also commented that, while Cathy Engelbert has presided over historic growth in the league, there are issues that need to be addressed with the players, not only economic ones, but also in terms of relationship. He expressed confidence that they will be able to solve these problems over time and that the league will continue its upward trajectory. Silver made these statements at NBC Sports headquarters, where the network’s return to broadcasting the league this season was discussed. They will also televise the WNBA Finals in 2026. Derek Fisher, former Lakers player and former president of the Basketball Players Association, recalled that in 2011, the league and the union failed to reach an agreement on time, which shortened the season to 66 games due to a lockout. Fisher, who has also been a coach in the WNBA and will be an NBC analyst for NBA coverage, indicated that it is unusual to see someone express themselves as Collier did during the negotiations, but understood the reason.

It’s not the norm, but those were the feelings many times. Whenever you’re in the middle of high-stakes negotiations and conversations, sometimes it gets to the level of distrust, misunderstandings due to lack of communication or miscommunication. But, ultimately, until you reach an agreement, there’s a very adversarial nature until you come back together.

Derek Fisher

Silver insisted they would reach an agreement.

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

Adam Silver

Fisher senses that WNBA players feel they haven’t been valued enough and perceive a disconnect with the league’s management. Fisher added that the WNBA could have reached this point sooner. The arrival of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has re-accelerated growth, but this league has always been special. The players simply say they cannot allow some of the things that have happened in the 27 years of history to be repeated. They don’t want to leave young women in the same position they were in when they had no influence.