Adam Silver Urges Urgency in WNBA Negotiations
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Amid ongoing negotiations between the WNBA and the players’ association for a new collective bargaining agreement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has expressed concern about the proximity of the deadline for the start of the season. Silver, although not willing to set a deadline, urges both sides to negotiate with a renewed sense of urgency.The negotiations, which have shown signs of progress since December, albeit slow, are now considered to be heading in the right direction.“I would like to put pressure on everyone,” Silver commented during his annual press conference at the NBA All-Star weekend. “Often, things tend to get resolved at the last minute. We are dangerously approaching the deadline regarding the negotiation.”
Adam Silver
Silver clarified that, although he has not been directly at the negotiating table, he has been involved behind the scenes.“I am encouraged by the increased exchange of ideas in recent weeks,” added Silver.
Adam Silver
On February 6, the league presented a new proposal in response to the union’s offer in December. This proposal included concessions on housing and facilities standards, but no significant changes in revenue sharing. The league has proposed that players receive, on average, more than 70% of net revenue, defined as revenue after deducting expenses. Their latest proposal includes a salary cap of $5.65 million in 2026 (compared to approximately $1.5 million in 2025), which would grow in subsequent years in line with revenue growth. In their previous proposal, maximum salaries, including revenue sharing payments, would amount to $1.3 million in 2026 and were projected to approach $2 million in 2031. The super maximum in 2025 was $249,000. The average player salary, including revenue sharing, was projected to reach $540,000 in 2026 and $780,000 by 2031, up from $120,000 in 2025. For their part, the players have proposed a salary cap of $10.5 million and wish to receive 30% of gross revenue, defined as revenue before deducting expenses. Multiple sources reported that the league projects that the union’s plan would result in $700 million in losses during the agreement and would jeopardize the financial health of the league. However, the union believes that its revenue sharing model still places the league in a “profitable position”. A source revealed that the WNBPA has not submitted a response to the league’s most recent proposal. In December, the WNBPA player body granted the executive committee the right to call a strike. Last week, the treasurer of the executive committee, Brianna Turner, stated that she believes a strike “is not imminent at this time”. “It’s still early February, we’re still going,” he said. “So, I feel like we’re still in a holding pattern for the moment.”“I want to play the most productive role in achieving an agreement,” Silver stated. “I believe we must now move towards a greater sense of urgency and not lose momentum on the incredible progress we have seen in women’s basketball.”
Adam Silver
