MACAU – NBA commissioner Adam Silver said a WNBA game in China is likely to happen “very soon”, but the league must first address the expiring collective bargaining agreement.
Talking with CNBC during the first of two NBA preseason games in Macau over the weekend, Silver was asked when a WNBA game in the country might take place.
“We have to get through a new collective bargaining agreement with our players,” he said.
“But once we do, there’s so much interest in women’s basketball here, I think we’d love to bring a WNBA game to Macau or to mainland China.”
The WNBA has held pre-season games in countries including Mexico and the United Kingdom, and the league staged its first regular-season game outside of the United States when the Seattle Storm faced the Atlanta Dream in Vancouver on Aug 15.
While the WNBA has yet to play an official game in Asia, the NBA announced a multi-year partnership with the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) that includes the country’s men’s and women’s national teams receiving opportunities to train and compete in the United States.
The pact also includes Chinese teams taking part in NBA Summer League and pre-season WNBA games.
The NBA is scheduled to play eight more games in Macau over the next four years, and they may be additional games played in mainland China.
“This collaboration is a continuation of our long-term efforts to elevate the game of basketball in China at all levels,” Silver added. “We look forward to strengthening our collective commitment to developing the next generation of NBA and WNBA players from China.”
The WNBA’s current CBA is set to expire on Oct 31, and the sides are reportedly still far apart in negotiations with several players recently criticising commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
Chicago Sky forward Elizabeth Williams, the union’s executive committee secretary, told Sportico in August: “Initially the end of October was ideal, but that’s probably not going to happen. That’s where we wanted to be, but I don’t think we’ll be ready. I’m staying cautiously optimistic.”
The league faces a potential work stoppage if a new agreement is not reached.
In other news, Miami Heat boss Erik Spoelstra has been appointed head coach of the United States men’s national team through to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, USA Basketball said on Tuesday.
Spoelstra, who led Miami to back-to-back NBA championships in 2012 and 2013, was assistant coach of the US men’s team which won gold at last year’s Paris Games.
The 54-year-old was also an assistant coach to Steve Kerr at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup, where the USA finished fourth.
“It’s an incredible honour to be named head coach of the USA Basketball men’s national team,” said Spoelstra, who will enter his 18th season as Miami coach this year.
“I look forward to carrying on the tradition of excellence and teamwork that defines USA Basketball.”
The US men’s team have won gold at the past five Summer Olympics, with a total of 17 gold medals since the sport was first included in the Olympic program in 1936. REUTERS, AFP
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