Adam Silver won't set deadline in WNBA labor negotiations

"However, he urges everyone involved to operate with a new heightened sense of urgency. "What I would love to do is put pressure on everyone," Silver said at his annual press conference at NBA All-Star weekend. "Often things tend to get done at the 11th hour. We're getting awfully close to the 11th hour when it comes to bargaining." For the first time since December, conversations between the WNBA and union are being described as heading in the right direction, though they are still slow moving."

"Silver clarified that he has not been at the negotiating table, but has been involved behind the scenes. "I want to play whatever role would be most productive in getting a deal done," Silver said. "I think we need to now move toward the next level of sense of urgency and not lose momentum in terms of the amazing amount of progress we've seen in women's basketball.""

Negotiations between the WNBA and the Players' Association for a new collective bargaining agreement remain slow, with no drop-dead date set to guarantee the May 8 season opener. Adam Silver urged heightened urgency and said bargaining is nearing the 11th hour, while noting increased back-and-forth in recent weeks and that talks are moving in the right direction for the first time since December. Silver has not been at the negotiating table but has worked behind the scenes and offered to help get a deal done. The league's Feb. 6 proposal included concessions on housing and facility standards, proposed players receive on average over 70% of net revenue, and included a $5.65 million salary cap in 2026 that would grow with revenue; previous proposals had maximum salaries, including revenue share payouts, around $1.3 million.

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