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WNBPA criticizes Adam Silver after his comments on WNBA revenue sharing as viewership and sponsorships surge, with stars like Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson driving record growth.
(Credit: X)
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has fired a pointed shot at NBA commissioner Adam Silver after his comments on the WNBA’s revenue model.
Appearing on NBC’s Today Show, Silver was asked whether WNBA players deserve a bigger share of the league’s booming revenues. He initially said “yes”, then quickly hedged.
“I mean, I think share isn’t the right way to look at it,” Silver said.
Adam Silver on the WNBA labor talks:“I think share isn’t the right way to look at it because there’s so much more revenue in the NBA…they are gonna get a big increase in this cycle of collective bargaining and they deserve it” pic.twitter.com/3SREuS0JG1
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) October 21, 2025
“There’s so much more revenue in the NBA. I think you should look at the absolute numbers — what they’re making. They’re going to get a big increase in this cycle of collective bargaining, and they deserve it.”
The WNBPA wasn’t having it.
A League on the Rise
Silver’s comments land at a moment when the WNBA is hotter than ever — on the court, on TV, and online.
The 2024 season shattered viewership records, merchandise sales spiked, and arenas sold out nationwide as stars like Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, and Breanna Stewart brought unprecedented attention to the game.
ESPN reported a 36% increase in average viewership, and social media engagement across the league grew nearly 200% year over year. Sponsorship money is following too — Nike, Google, and Coinbase have all deepened partnerships with the WNBA in the past 18 months.
Players argue that if the league’s financial health is finally flourishing, their pay should reflect it. Under the current CBA, WNBA players take home just 9.3% of league income — a fraction of the roughly 50% basketball-related income (BRI) split between NBA players and owners.
A Fractured Relationship at the Top
The union has already butted heads with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, criticizing her for being “distant” and “non-collaborative” during labor talks. And now, with Silver — the most powerful figure in basketball — publicly dismissing the notion of “sharing,” the optics couldn’t be worse.
Players believe their labor, visibility, and off-court influence are finally driving the WNBA into the mainstream — yet the economic structure hasn’t caught up.
A Critical Deadline Looms
The current collective bargaining agreement expires October 31, with players having already opted out of the previous deal. Negotiations are heating up, and Silver’s phrasing has added fuel to an already simmering fire.
As one player privately told ESPN: “They say we’re growing, they say we’re inspiring the next generation — but when it comes to the money, suddenly it’s all about ‘absolute numbers.’”
(with agency inputs)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
October 22, 2025, 17:54 IST
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