NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has hinted that a WNBA game in China could be staged in the near future, but noted that the league must first finalise a new collective bargaining agreement with the players.
Speaking during the NBA preseason games in Macao, Silver acknowledged the growing interest in women’s basketball across China and said hosting a game in Macao or mainland China is a strong possibility once the new agreement is secured.
“We have to get through a new collective bargaining agreement with our players. 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 Macao or to mainland China,” he said.
The WNBA has previously held preseason games in countries like Mexico and the United Kingdom, and made history by staging its first regular-season game outside the United States when Seattle Storm faced Atlanta Dream in Vancouver on August 15.
Although an official WNBA fixture has yet to be played in Asia, the NBA recently signed a multi-year partnership with the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). The partnership includes opportunities for both men’s and women’s Chinese national teams to train and compete in the United States, as well as participation in NBA Summer League and potential WNBA preseason games.
The NBA is scheduled to host eight more games in Macao over the next four years, with talks also open for additional fixtures 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.
However, the WNBA’s current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on October 31, and negotiations are reportedly still tense. Players, including Chicago Sky forward and union executive committee member Elizabeth Williams, have expressed concern that a deal may not be ready in time, raising the possibility of a work stoppage if talks fail.
The league’s expansion efforts, including potential international games, could hinge on the successful completion of those negotiations.
