NBA CommissionerAdam Silver‘s recent statements have not been well-received, particularly after he addressed the ongoing negotiations between the WNBA and its players. He also took the opportunity to express his stance on the growing tension between WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the players, a topic that has captured significant attention in the sports world.
“Cathy Engelbert has presided over historic growth in the league, but there’s no question that there’s issues we need to address with our WNBA players,” Silver told USA Today. “They’re 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.”
“There’s no question that the WNBA is going through growing pains… We’ve got to sit down with the players and negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA),” he added.
Silver was also quoted by The Athletic, stating: “Cathy Engelbert has presided over six years of some of the strongest growth we’ve not only seen in the WNBA but any sports league in history. But it’s become too personal, and we’re going to have to work through those issues.”
Satou Sabally Responds with Brutal Honesty to Adam Silver‘s “Personal” Comment
Silver’s remarks were unlikely to sit well with WNBA players, and Phoenix Mercury star Satou Sabally was among those questioned about his comments.
“It is very personal, because the WNBA wants to forbid us to make a lot more money than we’ve ever going to make here, what it seems like, in other leagues,” Sabally said of Silver‘s comment, per an X post from @jeffmetcalfe.
“It’s very personal,” she added. “We have families. This is our job. We make more money in China, Russia, Turkey, than here. So it is very personal. And I don’t think why it should become personal.”
Sabally has been a vocal leader among WNBA players, especially when it comes to expressing her feelings about the league office and the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations. One could assume she’s speaking on behalf of her peers as well, confirming that these issues are indeed deeply personal.
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