Ever since the WNBPA walked away from the last CBA, both the union and the league have sat across countless negotiation tables. Yet, despite all the meetings, no collective agreement has been signed. And now, with tensions escalating in the ongoing battle, the gap between the two sides seems wider than ever. Shots have been fired back and forth – and this time, it’s the league speaking up!

Well, the demand from WNBPA is clear: they want a revenue-sharing system where players and teams share every dollar the league earns. Simply put, if the league thrives, so should the players. As the goal hasn’t been accomplished yet, the players’ association criticized the stalled CBA talks. But W’s not taking it anymore: the league and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert have issued a firm response to Front Office Sports, pushing back against claims of delay and misrepresentation.

“It is incorrect and surprising that the Players Association is claiming that the WNBA has not offered an uncapped revenue-sharing model that is directly tied to the league’s performance,” the statement by the league read. And not just that – the league even emphasized that it has already proposed an “uncapped revenue-sharing model, one that grows alongside league revenue and rewards players as the W succeeds.”

According to the league, the union has refused to engage meaningfully, misrepresented the proposal, and accused the league of delaying talks. So, the W is clear: they’re ready to negotiate in good faith and hope the players will do the same. That’s why the league wants a mutually beneficial CBA, but only if both sides are willing to compromise.

But what you just read is one part of the story. The controversy concerning the agreement erupted on Tuesday morning, when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made an appearance on NBC’s Today show and spoke with confidence that a new deal would be reached and that players would see a salary boost. But it wasn’t his intent that drew attention – it was his choice of words that raised the ire of the union.

“Yes. I mean, I think share isn’t the right way to look at it because there’s so much more revenue in the NBA,” he said. “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.” As his words didn’t seem encouraging to WNBPA, the union fired back on Wednesday.

“What the league and teams are really trying to do is not only limit the cost of labor but also contain it through an artificial salary system that isn’t tied to the business the players are building in any real or meaningful way,” replied WNBPA Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson. And now, after their take, the league has issued its own. So far, it’s confirmed that the back-and-forth isn’t over yet!

What’s next for the League and WNBPA?

It’s just one week until the CBA lockout, which would remain in effect until the two parties reach a mutual agreement. While this scenario is nothing new for W, a similar CBA discussion occurred back in 2019. But the last CBA was inked with the guidance of Cathy Engelbert, the league’s first-ever commissioner.

But will her experience be helpful now? Well, it doesn’t seem to be. Ever since Napheesa Collier’s exit interview, in which she delivered an already prepared 3–4 minute statement recalling some of her discussions with Cathy and calling her “the worst leadership in the world,” the league’s standing has been shaken.

From fans, media, players, to owners – everyone wanted Cathy to be replaced. So, a discussion with her is least likely to happen. But with Silver’s involvement, it seems an agreement could be reached. “You should look at it in absolute numbers in terms of what they are making. They are going to get a big increase in this cycle of collective bargaining and they deserve it,” he shared on Tuesday. So that fulfills one of the demands of the players. And looking at the glass half full, it seems a new CBA might be on its way, even if it crosses the October 31 deadline. What do you think?