Following Napheesa Collier’s powerful speech, the situation in the WNBA is not looking good. Every player, analyst, and fan is showing support to the player while the League commissioner is trying to ‘avoid’ the topic as much as possible. She tried to schedule a meeting with the Lynx forward, but after confirmation, the 28-year-old star cancelled the meeting.
According to a WNBA analyst, Napheesa Collier “pushed the relationship beyond repair” after canceling a meeting with Cathy Engelbert. One person who is confident in a solution on time is Adam Silver, who spoke to the media about the WNBA’s current state and his expectations.
Adam Silver Expresses Confidence In Resolving WNBA Labor Dispute
The NBA will have its new season underway in a week’s time, with pre-season matches already showcasing the teams’ capabilities. Ahead of the new season, Adam Silver was at the NBC network, where he also discussed the WNBA’s ‘growing pains’ and expressed confidence that they will find a solution in time.
“Cathy Englebert has presided over historic growth in the league, but there’s no question that there are issues we need to address with our players. They’re 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,” Silver said
I asked NBA Commissioner Adam Silver about the dispute between players and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and CBA negotiations and he called the issue "unfortunate." #NBA #WNBA pic.twitter.com/7IJMpaRlTU
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) October 6, 2025
As the NBA commissioner pointed out, there are relationship issues in the league with the distance between players and the commissioner is constantly widening. ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike provided a reality check to Cathy Engelbert on avoiding tough conversations with players, which was the main issue, according to the analyst.
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The WNBA commissioner, though, is confident of settling the issue. She spoke to the media, sharing her views on the CBA deal amid the controversy.
WNBA Commissioner Vows To Repair Relationships
Even though Cathy Engelbert is facing heavy criticism for her comments and the league’s operations, the WNBA Commissioner remains confident about finding a middle ground. She mentioned that she spoke with Napheesa Collier after her criticism and will be meeting the player in person. But later Collier cancelled the meeting, which intensified the tension.
“That is a real deadline from that perspective. We have extended deadlines in the past. I know last time when I was only a couple of days on the job, we got to an extension and got a deal done. … I feel confident that we can get a deal done, but if not, I think we could do an extension,” Engelbert told the press.
“We continue to meet and have important conversations with the players’ association. I want to reiterate that we want much of the same things that the players want. We want to significantly increase their salary and benefits, while also supporting the long-term growth and viability of the WNBA,” Engelbert added.
Engelbert said higher salaries for players is a goal both sides share, as for the players, it is one of the agenda items in the CBA, while the sharing part is still in discussion.