Silver Talks WNBA Labor Agreement and Tensions with Players

Adam Silver Confirms Collective Bargaining Agreement in the WNBA 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 expressed harsh criticism of the league’s leadership, which threatened to overshadow the WNBA Finals between Las Vegas and Phoenix.

“There’s no doubt the WNBA is experiencing growing pains, and it’s unfortunate that this is happening right when the most important games, the Finals, are being played,” Silver stated. “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 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 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 the league’s MVP runner-up.

“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,” 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 currently on.”

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 and former president of the National Basketball Players Association in 2011, when the league and the union failed to reach an agreement on time, which reduced the season to 66 games, commented that it was unusual to see someone express themselves as Collier did during the negotiations, but understood the reason. Silver insisted that an agreement would be reached.

“We will reach an agreement with the players,” he stated. “There is a lot of work to be done, but of course we will achieve a new collective bargaining agreement.”

Adam Silver

Fisher suggested 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 have re-accelerated the growth, but this league has always been special. And I think the players are just saying that we can’t let some of the things that have happened in our 27-year history continue. We don’t want to leave the girls of the next 20 years in the position we were in when we had no influence.”