The WNBA’s current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on Oct. 31, and unless the league and the player’s union agrees to a new deal, a lockout could be on the horizon. There hasn’t been a ton of forward progress on getting a new CBA deal done, and players have been incredibly vocal in their criticism about the handling of the negotiations. Minnesota Lynx star Naphessa Collier has made the strongest comments to date, calling out league commissioner Cathy Engelbert, saying in part, “We have the worst leadership in the world.”
Despite the tense ongoing labor negotiations, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is expressing confidence in a new deal getting done.
“We will get a deal done with the players,” Silver said Monday. “Lots of work left to be done, but we’ll, of course, get a new collective bargaining deal done.”
Silver didn’t mention if that will come before or after the current deal expires, but implying a deal will get done in some capacity suggests that perhaps there’s been some progress. Silver also noted that the financial aspect isn’t the only thing that needs to be figured out with the league, but relationships likely need to be repaired, too.
“Cathy Engelbert has presided over historic growth in the league, but there’s no question that there’s issues we need to address with our players,” Silver said. “They’re not just economic. There’s relationship issues, as well.”
Silver’s comments likely allude to what Collier said as part of her statement during her exit interviews following the Lynx losing in the playoffs. In that statement, Collier recalled a conversation she had with Engelbert, where she said the commissioner allegedly responded to a question about pay raises for some of the league’s brightest young stars like Caitlin Clark with: “Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.”
WNBA players back Napheesa Collier after she calls out Cathy Engelbert and the league:…
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