Silver: WNBA CBA will get done but relationships must be repaired - ESPN

STAMFORD, Conn. — NBA commissioner Adam Silver said a new collective bargaining agreement with WNBA players will be reached but acknowledged relationship issues must be repaired following recent criticisms of commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

Those issues reached a high point last week when Minnesota's Napheesa Collier said the league has the «worst leadership in the world,» and they have threatened to overshadow the WNBA Finals between Las Vegas and Phoenix that began days afterward.

«There's no question that the WNBA is going through growing pains, and it's unfortunate that it's coming just as their most important games and their Finals are on right now,» Silver said Monday. «We've had two fantastic games so far, and we want to celebrate the game at the moment, and then we've got to sit down with the players and negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement.»

Engelbert has also said a new deal will get done, albeit not necessarily by the Oct. 31 deadline. Negotiators for the league and the players association were expected to meet this week.

Players are seeking significant changes following the WNBA's enormous growth in recent seasons, and some have expressed their frustration with Engelbert — though not as loudly and forcefully as Collier, the runner-up for the league's MVP.

«Cathy Engelbert has presided over historic growth in the league but there's no question that there's issues that we need to address with our players, not just economic,» Silver said. «There's relationship issues as well. I'm confident we can fix those over time and this league can continue to be on the rocket trajectory that it's on right now.»

Silver spoke at NBC Sports headquarters to discuss the network's return to broadcasting the league this