Adam Silver Wants WNBA to Fix Player Relationships As Conflict Takes Ugly Turn

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has witnessed the record growth the WNBA has enjoyed over the past two years.

Adam Silver Wants WNBA to Fix Player Relationships As Conflict Takes Ugly Turn

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and Adam Silver (Image via FirstSportz)

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has managed to take the league to new heights. Its sister concern, the WNBA, on the other hand, is facing an internal conflict with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert at odds with players.

In the midst of CBA negotiations, the players’ union has lobbied for better facilities, pay, the physical style of play, improvements to officiating, and how the league schedules the increasing number of games they have to play.

On the matter of officiating, coaches and players have been constantly pointing out the league’s lack of fairness and consistency. It all came to a boiling point when Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier openly asked for a change in leadership across the board.

She even revealed Cathy Engelbert’s questionable stance on players, particularly when it comes to acknowledging their impact. The Commissioner deflected and denied those accusations.

Her efforts to mediate with Collier fell flat after the star forward canceled a meeting with Engelbert, which has now led the conflict to take an ugly turn. When Adam Silver was at NBC’s Sports headquarters, he had the following to say about the situation:

There’s no question that the WNBA is going through growing pains and it’s unfortunate that it’s coming just as their most important games and their finals are on right now. 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.

Adam Silver said as quoted by the Associated Press

Silver understands that there are growing pains and wants the WNBA’s leadership to work with the players to come to an agreement, as without a new CBA, next season lies in jeopardy.

Adam Silver confident WNBA can mend relations with players

After Napheesa Collier dropped the bombshell, several players have supported her stance. Although no member of the WNBPA has stepped in to say anything, Adam Silver understands the league’s relationship with players is fractured.

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. 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.

Adam Silver said

The Associated Press noted that the NBA Commissioner wants the WNBA to capitalize on its surreal growth. But for that to happen, he knows Cathy Engelbert has to do more if she needs the support of the players.

This conflict could undermine the league’s chances of getting the CBA signed and ready. Engelbert has already expressed doubts that it will be signed by the October 31st deadline. Even if it does not, she has to ensure it is signed ahead of free agency, which is set to start in November.

Napheesa Collier explains to Kamala Harris why she spoke out

The tensions between players and the league have been brewing for some time. It was only when Napheesa Collier spoke up that it became a public matter.

Cathy Engelbert and Napheesa Collier after the All-Star game
Cathy Engelbert and Napheesa Collier after the All-Star game (Image via Basket USA/X)

While speaking with former Vice President Kamala Harris in Los Angeles, Collier explained her reason for taking shots at WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

I am on the union for our CBA negotiations for our league. So long I saw what was going on behind closed doors… Nothing was changing… I just got to the point when I was fed up… No matter the consequences, I felt like it was something that was needed to be done.

Napheesa Collier said

The co-founder of Unrivaled added that she felt compelled to speak up as nothing was being done at the league level to address concerns from players and coaches.

She knows there could be some fallout from this, but does not care about what it might do to her career. Collier believes she was right to speak up about it before it became too late.

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