Big changes are coming to the WNBA according to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Making an appearance on “TODAY” Tuesday morning to discuss the 2025-2026 NBA season, Silver spoke about WNBA player’s push for better pay.
WNBA players currently receive around 9% of their leagues revenue, while NBA players receive nearly 50%. Asked if the female athletes should “be getting a larger share” of the WNBA’s revenue, Silver was resolute in his answer.
“Yes,” he said. “I think share isn’t the right way to look at it because there’s so much more revenue in the NBA. I think you should look at it in absolute numbers in terms of what they’re making. And they are going to get a big increase in this cycle of collective bargaining.”
“And they deserve it,” he added.
Tensions Rise Amid Playoffs
Silver’s comments on Tuesday come as no surprise, as he was likely looking to address the revenue discrepancy between the two leagues and the growing tensions between WNBA players and their commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, which came after remarks made by WNBA star Napheesa Collier.
In September, after being eliminated from the playoffs, Minnesota Lynx forward Collier criticized the leadership in the WNBA, taking direct aim at Engelbert.
“The real threat to our league isn’t money, it isn’t ratings or even missed calls or even physical play. It’s the lack of accountability from the league office,” Collier claimed.
Detailing a conversation she had with Engelbert that year, she disclosed that the commissioner was not receptive to her concerns for the league or supportive of salary increases.
Lingering Concerns
“At Unrivaledthis past February, I sat across from Cathy and asked how she planned to address the officiating issues in our league. Her response was ‘Well, only the losers complain about the refs.’ I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like Caitlin [Clark], Angel [Reese] and Paige [Bueckers], who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league, are making so little for their first four years,” she continued.
“Her response was, ‘Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.'” Engelbert has denied making any remarks about Clark.
“The WNBA is experiencing some growth pains,” Silver said in October at an NBC Sports event, per The Athletic. “At the same time, Cathy Engelbert has presided over six years of some of the strongest growth we’ve not only seen in the WNBA but any sports league in history. But it’s become too personal and we’re going to have to work through those issues.”
