Throughout an look on NBC’s “At present Present” Tuesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver mentioned the WNBA labor talks with reporter Craig Melvin to kick off the brand new NBA season.
Adam Silver on WNBA labor talks: “I feel ‘share’ isn’t the best manner to have a look at it.”
When Martin requested if the league would get a bigger share of the income, Silver stated that he doesn’t see it as a “share concern” and famous WNBA gamers will see a big improve within the wage cap.
“I feel share isn’t the best manner to have a look at it as a result of there’s a lot extra income within the NBA,” Silver stated Tuesday. “I feel it’s best to have a look at absolute numbers when it comes to what they’re making. They’re going to get a giant improve on this cycle of collective bargaining, and so they deserve it.”
In relation to Silver discussing the WNBA’s income share, it’s a posh scenario as a result of there’s lots to unpack from his reply on the “At present Present.” Presently, WNBA gamers obtain 9 % of income, whereas NBA gamers obtain 50 %.
On its Instagram story, the WNBPA posted a video of Silver’s feedback with the caption, “Don’t wish to share?” whereas tagging his account.
Silver turned NBA commissioner in 2014, succeeding the late David Stern, and has helped develop the WNBA and led CBA talks on the NBA facet. With a transformative WNBA collective bargaining settlement looming, it’s simple to see why Silver is underneath fireplace for these feedback.
A number of gamers have voiced their want for a good income share, elevated salaries, and different advantages, together with prioritization. Whereas the present CBA emphasizes prioritizing the WNBA, gamers typically play in secondary leagues or abroad to complement their earnings.
Adam Silver on the WNBA labor talks:
“I feel share isn’t the best manner to have a look at it as a result of there’s a lot extra income within the NBA…they’re gonna get a giant improve on this cycle of collective bargaining and so they deserve it” pic.twitter.com/3SREuS0JG1
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) October 21, 2025
Pressure Rises between Cathy Engelbert and Gamers
Final month, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier criticized WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the league’s management in the course of the crew’s exit interviews. She canceled a scheduled assembly with Engelbert after the commissioner denied making such feedback.
Since then, pressure has grown amongst Engelbert, crew house owners, and gamers as they negotiate a brand new CBA.
“There’s no query that the WNBA goes by rising pains, and it’s unlucky that it’s coming simply as their most necessary video games and their Finals are on proper now,” Silver stated on Oct. 6, through ESPN, when discussing how the connection between the league management and gamers may very well be repaired.
“We’ve had two implausible video games thus far, and we wish to have a good time the sport in the meanwhile, after which we’ve obtained to take a seat down with the gamers and negotiate a brand new collective bargaining settlement,” stated Silver.
Throughout the 2025 WNBA All-Star Sport in Indianapolis in July, gamers from the All-Star groups wore shirts studying, “Pay us what you owe us,” whereas followers in attendance held posters stating, “Pay the gamers.”
After the Las Vegas Aces gained their third franchise championship in Phoenix on Oct. 10, the group loudly booed Engelbert when ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe talked about her identify in the course of the trophy presentation.
Napheesa Collier’s full assertion at the moment, the place she challenged Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the WNBA with directness and gorgeous element we not often hear from lively gamers. Price listening to each phrase. pic.twitter.com/IRTvTc52EA
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) September 30, 2025
Time Is Working Out as WNBA CBA Deadline Nears Oct. 31
In July, Engelbert spoke to reporters throughout WNBA All-Star weekend about her respect for the gamers and her perception that the league could have a dependable CBA.
“Simply wish to say I actually respect the gamers,” Engelbert stated July 19. “We’re listening. They’re listening to our house owners. We’re form of within the center because the league attempting to verify we’re setting this league up for achievement for many years. That’s the objective, to have a good CBA for all.”
“I would like quite a lot of the identical issues the gamers need. I stated that final time, too. It’s not modified. However we additionally should have a course of the place we trip. We’re within the course of. Once more, I’m nonetheless actually optimistic that we’ll get one thing carried out that can be transformational, and subsequent 12 months at All-Star, we’ll be speaking about how nice every part is. Clearly, there’s quite a lot of laborious work to be carried out on each side to get there.”
Earlier than Sport 1 of the 2025 WNBA Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury, Engelbert expressed her hope of assembly the deadline on time whereas balancing elevated participant salaries with the “long-term viability of the league.”
Is an Extension in Sight?
When Engelbert took over as commissioner in 2019, she talked about the WNBPA obtained an extension to the present CBA, with negotiations accomplished in January 2020.
“On the October thirty first deadline, we’re working actually laborious,” Engelbert stated on Oct. 3. “We’ve a pair conferences subsequent week. We had one this week. Working actually laborious to alternate proposals and make some progress. Whereas I hope we make the October thirty first deadline, and that could be a actual deadline from that perspective, we’ve prolonged deadlines up to now.”
“I do know final time, once I was solely a pair days on the job, we obtained to an extension and obtained a deal carried out that was progressive on the time. So once more, I really feel assured that we will get a deal carried out, but when not, I feel we might do an extension…Hopefully, the Gamers Affiliation and we’ll proceed to work laborious between now and the tip of the month.”
With the present CBA set to run out on Halloween and the WNBPA having opted out precisely a 12 months in the past, time is operating out to finalize a brand new settlement.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert spoke with media forward of Sport 1 of the WNBA Finals to deal with the next:
-Napheesa Collier’s remarks-Officiating concerns-New committee to deal with participant issues/safety-CBA Negotiations pic.twitter.com/HYGTpLBByd
— ESPN (@espn) October 3, 2025
A lot Work Lies Forward
After Silver shared his view on income sharing with the WNBA, many questions linger as negotiations proceed.
The WNBA has skilled exponential progress in recent times, pushed by the emergence of rising stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, enlargement into new cities, and record-breaking merchandise gross sales and viewership.
WNBA gamers now have the choice to compete in stateside leagues like Unequalled and Athletes Limitless, permitting them to earn offseason earnings at dwelling— a alternative that grew extra pressing after Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia practically 4 years in the past. It additionally permits gamers to remain near their youngsters and households whereas incomes a good wage.
With the rise of ladies’s basketball, the league can’t afford to lose the momentum it’s constructing if a lockout occurs. With file numbers on the rise, it’s important to capitalize on the now! Gamers throughout the league deserve larger salaries and a bigger share of the income they assist generate. As Chelsea Grey stated, “There’s no progress with out the gamers.”
*Story co-written by Aya Abdeen and Sara Jane Gamelli*
