NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday said WNBA players are going to see “a big increase” in pay in a new collective bargaining agreement, but he appeared to be dismissive toward the players’ union’s desires for a more robust revenue-sharing model.
Silver sat down with NBC’s “Today” show for an interview to celebrate the NBA’s return to the network. During the interview, reporter Craig Melvin brought up the contentious CBA negotiations and asked Silver whether WNBA players should get a larger share of the revenue.
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“Yes,” Silver said. “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 shared the clip of Silver’s answer on its Instagram story, with the caption, “Don’t want to share @adamsilverNBA?”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media during a press conference in Macau on Oct. 9, 2025. AFP via Getty Images
The WNBA’s current CBA is set to expire Oct. 31. A new deal isn’t expected to be reached by the deadline, and, similar to what happened in 2019 when the previous CBA expired, an extension is likely to be agreed upon to avoid a work stoppage.
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While both sides are advocating for a “transformational” CBA, players have been advocating for increased salaries, a better revenue share model, softer salary cap and better benefits among other things.
Revenue share has been a hot topic in CBA negotiations as the WNBA’s popularity has soared in recent years.
Television ratings and attendance records are routinely being broken. Franchise valuations are at an all-time high, too. The league also locked in an 11-year media deal, valued at $2.2 billion total, that’s set to start next year, and the WNBA recently announced three more expansion franchises who are buying in at a $250 million fee.
WNBA star Caitlin Clark wears a shirt saying “Pay us what you owe us” prior to the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. Getty Images
The NBA and WNBA revenue share models are quite different. NBA players get half of basketball-related income, and that figure impacts the annual salary cap.
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Meanwhile, basketball-related income isn’t mentioned in the WNBA’s current CBA. The league’s salary cap is predetermined by the CBA, and a revenue sharing model only comes into play when certain business benchmarks are met.
WNBA players receive around 9 percent of league revenue while NBA players get roughly 50 percent of BRI.
CBA negotiations have been heating up for some time.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks (and is ignored by Aces players) following Game 4 of the WNBA Finals on Oct. 10, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images
Last month, Lynx star and WNBPA vice president Napheesa Collier went scorched earth on the league and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
Silver said the dynamic between WNBA leadership and players has “become too personal.”
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While the WNBA offseason is in its infancy, there’s a lot that needs to happen between now and the start of the 2026 season, including the draft lottery, two expansion drafts, free agency and the college draft. All of that will be put on hold until a new CBA is reached.
Both sides are hoping to avoid delaying the start of next season.
