NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said a new collective bargaining agreement with WNBA players will be reached, but acknowledged relationship issues that must be repaired following recent criticisms of Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

Those reached a high point last week when Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier said the league had the “worst leadership in the world,” and they have threatened to overshadow the WNBA Finals between Las Vegas and Phoenix that began days afterward.

“Sometimes,” Silver continued, “we get so focused on logistics, numbers, and fine print that we forget what this league is really about — the athletes. They are the heart of the WNBA, and if they don’t feel heard, respected, and valued, then we’ve missed the mark.”

Those remarks follow weeks of public tension. Several WNBA stars — including A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Napheesa Collier — have spoken out recently about feeling excluded from critical league decisions. Wilson, who just led the Las Vegas Aces to the brink of a third straight championship, made headlines earlier this month when she said players “deserve a seat at every table where decisions about our careers are being made.”

“Players are not asking for favors,” Wilson said. “We’re asking for fairness. We give everything we have to this game — physically, mentally, emotionally. All we want is to be treated like true partners.”

Silver acknowledged those frustrations directly, saying, “I’ve read what A’ja and others have said, and they’re right — the players should be part of the process. They’ve earned that right. That’s something I take seriously, and something we’re actively working to change.”

“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,” Silver said Monday. “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.”

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Engelbert has also said a new deal will get done, albeit not necessarily by the October 31 deadline. Negotiators for the league and the players association were expected to meet this week.

Players are seeking significant changes following the WNBA’s enormous growth in recent seasons and some have expressed their frustration with Engelbert – though not as loudly and forcefully as Collier, the runner-up for the league’s MVP.

“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.”

Silver spoke at NBC Sports headquarters to discuss the network’s return to broadcasting the league this season. It will also televise the WNBA Finals in 2026.

Former Lakers guard Derek Fisher was the National Basketball Players Association president in 2011 when the league and union couldn’t reach an agreement in time and a lockout reduced the season to 66 games. He said it was rare to see someone express themselves the way Collier did during bargaining, but understood the reason.

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“It’s not the norm, but those were the feelings a lot of times,” said Fisher, who also coached in the WNBA and will be one of NBC’s game analysts for its NBA coverage.

The commissioner’s frankness has been both praised and criticized. While some view his comments as a positive step toward accountability, others believe they reveal just how deep the divide has become between the players and league executives.

“The fact that he’s admitting trust is broken says it all,” one WNBA insider told ESPN. “It’s not just about money — it’s about communication, respect, and transparency. The players feel like they’ve been kept in the dark too often, and that’s not sustainable in 2025.”

Silver also emphasized the importance of creating long-term stability for players beyond just financial gains. “We need to think beyond paychecks,” he said. “We need to invest in their health, their visibility, and their post-career opportunities. The WNBA can’t just be a great league — it has to be a sustainable one.”

The WNBPA has yet to issue an official statement following Silver’s remarks, but early reactions from players have been cautiously optimistic. “At least he’s being honest,” tweeted one veteran guard. “We’ve been waiting for real talk like this. Now let’s see the action.”

“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.”

Silver insisted they will.

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

It may not be easy. Fisher said he can sense that WNBA players feel they have not been valued enough and have a disconnect with league’s management.

“I think the W could have been at this point sooner,” Fisher said. “Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese kind of reaccelerated the growth, but this league has always been a special league. And so I think that the players are just saying we can’t allow some of the things that have taken place in our previous 27-year history. 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.”

Adam Silver has broken his silence — and his words have sent shockwaves through the basketball world. In a rare and unusually candid address, the NBA Commissioner issued an urgent warning about the state of the WNBA’s internal relations, admitting that while a new deal between players and league executives is “on track to get done,” the trust between both sides has been fractured — and must be rebuilt immediately.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the WNBA Finals, Silver didn’t mince words. “The deal will get done,” he said firmly. “But right now, we have to be honest — the relationship between the league and the players isn’t where it should be. There’s been tension, there’s been frustration, and that trust has to be repaired. If we don’t fix that, no contract or agreement will matter.”

It was a sobering moment that underscored growing concerns behind the scenes — concerns that have simmered for months amid negotiations over the league’s new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Players have pushed for increased pay, improved travel conditions, expanded roster spots, and greater transparency in decision-making. While progress has reportedly been made, Silver’s comments made clear that the emotional and professional disconnect between players and league leadership has become impossible to ignore.

Behind the scenes, sources say the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) and the league have been locked in tense negotiations over revenue sharing and working conditions. The current CBA, which was hailed as “transformative” when signed in 2020, gave players a significant salary boost and improved maternity benefits, but several of its provisions — particularly around charter travel and scheduling — have fallen under scrutiny as the league continues to grow.

“The landscape has changed drastically since 2020,” Silver admitted. “The WNBA’s popularity has exploded — viewership is up, attendance is breaking records, and sponsorship deals are at an all-time high. But our infrastructure hasn’t kept pace with that growth. That’s on us, and that’s what we’re trying to fix.”

Indeed, 2024 and 2025 have marked a new era for women’s basketball. The rise of generational stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink has brought unprecedented attention — and scrutiny — to the WNBA. Games are drawing record audiences, merchandise is flying off the shelves, and debates around player treatment and league funding have become national talking points.

But with that spotlight has come pressure. The debate over charter flights — long a sore point for players — reignited earlier this season after several teams faced grueling back-to-back travel schedules, delays, and even safety concerns. Many athletes voiced their frustration publicly, arguing that it’s time for the WNBA to abandon commercial flights altogether.

“I’m tired of feeling like we’re being asked to do more with less,” said Breanna Stewart earlier this year. “This league is growing fast, and it’s time the infrastructure caught up. If we want to call this a professional league, then we need professional standards — across the board.”

Silver didn’t dodge the issue. “The travel situation is unacceptable,” he said. “We’ve made progress, but it’s not enough. We’ve already committed to a new charter flight program for the upcoming season, but the players are right — we were slow to adapt. That’s part of the trust issue we need to repair.”

The commissioner’s frankness has been both praised and criticized. While some view his comments as a positive step toward accountability, others believe they reveal just how deep the divide has become between the players and league executives.

“The fact that he’s admitting trust is broken says it all,” one WNBA insider told ESPN. “It’s not just about money — it’s about communication, respect, and transparency. The players feel like they’ve been kept in the dark too often, and that’s not sustainable in 2025.”

Silver also emphasized the importance of creating long-term stability for players beyond just financial gains. “We need to think beyond paychecks,” he said. “We need to invest in their health, their visibility, and their post-career opportunities. The WNBA can’t just be a great league — it has to be a sustainable one.”

The WNBPA has yet to issue an official statement following Silver’s remarks, but early reactions from players have been cautiously optimistic. “At least he’s being honest,” tweeted one veteran guard. “We’ve been waiting for real talk like this. Now let’s see the action.”

Sports analysts say the timing of Silver’s comments is no coincidence. With the Aces on the verge of a three-peat and the league experiencing unprecedented popularity, the WNBA’s next few months could define its future for decades to come. A successful new CBA could usher in a golden era — but a breakdown in talks could set the league back years.

“This is a pivotal moment,” said sports business expert Jabari Young. “The WNBA has never had this much visibility, momentum, and leverage. If they can align leadership and player interests, they could explode globally. But if the trust gap widens, it could stall everything they’ve built.”

For Silver, the message couldn’t be clearer. “We’re not enemies — we’re partners,” he said in closing. “But partnership requires trust. I know it’s been shaken, and that’s on me as commissioner to help fix. We owe it to the players, the fans, and the future of this league to get this right.”

With that, the commissioner walked off the podium, leaving one truth echoing louder than ever — the deal may get done, but rebuilding trust will be the real test.