Lynx’s Napheesa Collier went scorched-earth against WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Last week, the player not only opined that the league had bad leadership, but also revealed how Engelbert felt that players like Caitlin Clark should feel grateful that the WNBA has allowed her to make millions off the court through advertising and endorsements.

A lot was said on both sides. Bridges were burnt. But Adam Silver, Commissioner of the NBA, believes that it is not too late to resolve things. As reported by ESPN, he was at NBC Sports headquarters when he addressed the issue. “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,” Silver started.

Well, Engelbert also stated that a new deal would be done; just not necessarily before the Oct. 31 deadline.

WNBA players are seeking a significant bump in pay after the league’s enormous growth. In the process, many of them have expressed their disappointment with Engelbert, but none have been as loud as Collier.

The Engelbert-Collier issue has come at a point of inflection:

• As ratings continue to grow, the WNBA has benefited from the inclusion of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
• Franchise valuations have increased, with the league planning to add five more teams by 2030.
• And last year, the WNBA announced its media-rights deal. It is reportedly worth billions.

But the relationship between the commissioner and players couldn’t have been worse. Hence, Silver added, “Cathy Engelbert has presided over historic growth in the league, but there’s no question that there are issues that we need to address with our players, not just economic.

“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.”

Former Lakers guard Derek Fisher, who was the NBA president in 2011, also weighed in on the issue. He had coached in the WNBA and felt that such conversions might sometimes reach a level of distrust and harbor misunderstandings. Fisher understands the situation because when he was the NBA president, the league and the union simply weren’t reaching an agreement, which resulted in a lockout.

So, he knows that until both sides reach an agreement, the situation might feel hostile. However, Silver is confident they will reach their final goal.

“Lots of work left to be done, but we’ll of course get a new collective bargaining agreement.”

Until then, the league and fans will hope that these tensions don’t escalate. That being said, there is another reason Engelbert is being criticized. Remember the racist comments fans have previously made during a Clark-Reese game?

Well, when addressing that, Engelbert diminished the effect that such abuses can have on players. Instead, she tried doubling down on how important rivalries were for sports. It not only came across as tone deaf but also felt symbolic of how she has handled player concerns.

Now, there is a clear division: WNBA vs. players.

What happens if both sides don’t find common ground?

WNBA players are fighting for a bigger share of the league’s revenue, as they currently receive just 9.3%. Now, compare that to the nearly 50% NBA players get from Basketball Related Income (BRI) that they split with the league, and you can see the massive discrepancy right there.

With a new $2.2 billion media rights deal and team expansions, it’s obvious the league is growing at a rapid rate. But the salaries remain almost the same, so players are adamant about what they want, both from a relationship and a financial standpoint. As WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike shared last year, the players cannot afford to stand still.

And though Silver is confident that they will work things out, what if it doesn’t happen? In that case, the WNBPA and the WNBA could look to extend he current terms. That would help the negotiations to continue, but if even that falls through, we might see a lockout, just like the NBA back in the day.

One can only hope it doesn’t reach that stage. What do you think?