Adam Silver speaks out on ‘growing pains’ around explosive WNBA CBA talks

The WNBA is in turmoil at the moment, but NBA commissioner Adam Silver remained confident that a labor deal will get done. 

Silver is trying to remain optimistic as the players have been in a full-on revolt against WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after Lynx star Napheesa Collier had scathing criticism of Engelbert in her end-of-the-season press conference. 

Speaking with reporters at NBC Sports headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, Silver was honest about the “growing pains” that the WNBA finds itself going through. 

“It’s unfortunate that it’s coming just as their most important games and their Finals are on right now,” he said, per the Associated Press. “We’ve had two fantastic games so far, and we want to celebrate the game at the moment, and then we’ve got to sit down with the players and negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement.”

He also acknowledged that there were issues that needed to be addressed. 

“Cathy Engelbert has presided over historic growth in the league but there’s no question that there’s issues that we need to address with our players, not just economic,” Silver said. “There’s relationship issues as well. I’m confident we can fix those over time and this league can continue to be on the rocket trajectory that it’s on right now.”

The collective bargaining agreement between the WNBA and its players is set to expire on Oct. 31 after the players opted out of the final year of the agreement. 

The league has seen rapid growth thanks to new, young stars that have entered the league, which has included Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers. 

However, the WNBA’s progress could be undone if the league cannot come to an agreement on a new CBA. 

The players are looking for a greater piece of the pie, especially with the league agreeing to a new 11-year media rights deal worth an estimated $2.2 billion. 

Silver was emphatic that a deal would get done. 

“We will get a deal done with the players,” Silver said. “Lots of work left to be done, but we’ll, of course, get a new collective bargaining deal done.”