NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated on Tuesday that WNBA players will see “a big increase” in pay under a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). However, he appeared dismissive toward the players’ union’s push for a more robust revenue-sharing model.
Silver spoke with NBC’s “Today” show to celebrate the NBA’s return to the network. During the interview, reporter Craig Melvin addressed the ongoing and contentious CBA negotiations, asking whether WNBA players should receive a larger share of the league’s revenue.
“Yes,” Silver replied. “I mean, 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 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.”
The Women’s National Basketball Players’ Association (WNBPA) shared Silver’s statement on its Instagram story, adding the caption, “Don’t want to share @adamsilverNBA?”
The WNBA’s current CBA is set to expire on October 31. While a new deal isn’t expected to be finalized by that deadline, an extension will likely be agreed upon—similar to what happened in 2019 when the previous agreement expired—to avoid any work stoppage.
Both the league and the players are advocating for a “transformational” CBA. Players are pushing for increased salaries, an improved revenue share model, a softer salary cap, and better benefits among other demands.
Revenue sharing has become a hot topic in these negotiations as the WNBA’s popularity continues to soar. Television ratings and attendance records are regularly being broken, and franchise valuations have reached an all-time high. The league recently secured an 11-year media deal worth $2.2 billion, set to begin next year, and announced three new expansion franchises with a $250 million buy-in fee each.
It’s important to note that the NBA and WNBA operate under quite different revenue share models. NBA players receive roughly half of basketball-related income (BRI), a figure that directly influences the annual salary cap. In contrast, the WNBA’s current CBA does not mention basketball-related income explicitly. Instead, the league’s salary cap is predetermined, and revenue sharing only activates when certain business benchmarks are met. Currently, WNBA players earn about 9 percent of league revenue compared to approximately 50 percent of BRI for NBA players.
Tensions in the CBA negotiations have been rising for some time. Last month, Lynx star and WNBPA vice president Napheesa Collier publicly criticized both the league and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Silver commented that the relationship between WNBA leadership and players “has become too personal.”
As the WNBA offseason begins, much remains to be settled before the 2026 season kicks off. Key events—including the draft lottery, two expansion drafts, free agency, and the college draft—will all be put on hold until a new CBA is finalized. Both sides are eager to avoid any delays to next season’s start.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/21/sports/nba-commissioner-adam-silver-pushes-back-on-key-wnba-player-ask/
