Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver said on Tuesday WNBA players will receive a “big” salary increase when their new collective bargaining agreement is finalised.
Silver told NBC television’s “Today Show” WNBA players, who have been lobbying for a larger cut of league revenues amid surging interest in women’s basketball, can expect to be paid more in a new deal. Silver, who was speaking ahead of the 2025-2026 NBA season’s tip-off, was responding to a question comparing compensation for WNBA and NBA players. WNBA players receive 9.3 percent of league revenues, while NBA players get roughly 50 percent.
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“I think ‘share’ isn’t the right way to look at it because there’s so much more revenue in the NBA,” Silver said. “You should look at it in absolute numbers in terms of what they’re making. They are going to get a big increase in this cycle of collective bargaining. And they deserve it.”
The WNBA’s current collective bargaining agreement will end on October 31, 2025, raising the possibility of a lockout if no agreement is reached before the deadline. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who has been the target of stinging criticism by several players, said earlier this month the league wants to “significantly increase” salaries and benefits to players while also ensuring the “long-term growth and viability” of the league.
© 2024 AFP
