In recent days, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has been engulfed in a severe crisis, with tensions escalating between its players and the league’s leadership. The turmoil ignited following an exit interview with star player Napheesa Collier, where she boldly voiced her profound frustration, calling the league office “tone-deaf, dismissive, and too often driven by control and power”. But it was her branding of the leadership as the “worst in the world” that struck like a thunderclap, turning a simmering issue into a blazing inferno. Just when it seemed the flames couldn’t burn any hotter, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has stepped in, offering a new stance and a glimmer of hope amidst the storm.

Silver’s intervention came after WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert quickly dismissed the allegations and promised to “do better.” In a statement on October 4, she said, “There’s a lot of inaccuracy about what I said or what I didn’t say, and I will tell you, I highly respect the players. It’s obviously been a tough week”. However, her words failed to extinguish the fire, causing the spotlight to flicker between the ongoing NBA finals and the off-court turbulence. This was the moment Adam Silver had to step in.

The NBA Commissioner, known for his calm yet commanding leadership style, finally broke his silence. He acknowledged what many had already suspected: the WNBA is not just dealing with business negotiations but with deep-rooted relationship issues. Speaking at NBC Sports headquarters, Silver admitted, “We’ve had two fantastic finals games. We’ve had to sit down with the players and negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. There are issues that we need to address with our players, not just economic. There are 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”. His assessment was spot-on.

Silver’s comments subtly pointed toward the controversy that reignited after Collier’s revelation about her conversation with Engelbert. During that exchange, Engelbert allegedly dismissed the idea of pay raises for rising stars, reportedly saying Caitlin Clark “should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything”, according to Collier’s exit interview. Those words didn’t just stir quiet frustration; they unleashed a full-blown storm. Suddenly, two sides were drawn: the Commissioner versus the players. Even A’ja Wilson, the four-time MVP, didn’t hold back, admitting she was “disgusted” by Engelbert’s alleged statement.

This is precisely what makes Silver’s intervention so timely, as he steps in when the trust between players and leadership is hanging by a thread. But what makes his comments even more crucial at this moment is that the players trust him. As WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike explained better in a statement she shared earlier this year, “I’ve talked to Adam Silver about it a lot. Players feel comfortable and confident going up to him”. She even stated a preference for Silver over Engelbert. So, the players are most likely to hear him out amid this tense situation—but will they?

What’s next for the WNBA versus its players? Apart from the growing tensions, another prominent issue is the WNBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) deadline of October 31. And yes, Silver spoke on that too. “We will get a deal done with the players,” Silver said. “Lots of work left to be done, but will of course get a new collective bargaining deal done”. A lot of work, indeed.

WNBA players are fighting for a larger share of the league’s revenue, as they currently receive just 9.3%. Compare that to the nearly 50% of basketball-related income (BRI) that NBA players split with their league, and the massive discrepancy becomes glaringly obvious. With a new $2.2 billion media rights deal and team expansions, the league is clearly growing at a rapid rate. Yet, player salaries have remained almost stagnant. Therefore, the players are adamant about what they want, both from a relationship and a financial standpoint.

As Ogwumike shared last year, the league is at a “defining moment,” and the players cannot afford to stand still. While negotiating by the October 31 deadline seems difficult, what happens if it doesn’t? Former Lakers guard Derek Fisher has an answer for you. “Whenever you’re in the heat of high-stakes negotiations and conversions and discussions, it reaches the level of distrust sometimes, misunderstandings due to miscommunication or poor communication. But ultimately, until you reach an agreement, there is a very adversarial nature to it until you come back together”.

Fisher added, “I think the W could have been at this point sooner. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese kind of reaccelerated the growth. We don’t want to leave the girls over the next 20 years in the position that we were in when we had no leverage”. And he has the experience to back it up. He was the National Basketball Players Association president in 2011 when the league and the union couldn’t reach an agreement, a standoff that led to a lockout and a reduced 66-game season. For the WNBA, however, that’s unlikely to happen as the league is in its offseason and has months to negotiate. So, will the WNBA be able to secure a new CBA before the upcoming season?

This confrontation is about more than just money; it’s about respect, recognition, and a fair future for female athletes. Adam Silver has recognized that the problem runs deeper than the numbers, touching the very core of relationships and trust. His message is not just a call for negotiation but a reminder of the importance of building a solid foundation for sustainable growth. Can the WNBA overcome this challenge to enter a new era where its players are valued appropriately and the relationship between them and the league becomes stronger? The answer will shape the future of women’s basketball for decades to come.