Imagine the roar of the crowd as WNBA stars take the court in China—a historic moment that could be just around the corner. But here’s where it gets controversial: while NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has hinted that a WNBA game in China is likely to happen ‘very soon,’ there’s a significant hurdle to clear first. The league must navigate the complexities of a new collective bargaining agreement with its players before this dream can become a reality. In a recent conversation with CNBC during the NBA’s pre-season games in Macau, Silver expressed optimism about the growing interest in women’s basketball in China. ‘Once we finalize the agreement,’ he said, ‘we’d love to bring a WNBA game to Macau or mainland China.’ This move wouldn’t just be symbolic—it would mark a major step in the WNBA’s global expansion, building on its pre-season games in Mexico and the UK, and its first-ever regular-season game outside the U.S. in Vancouver. And this is the part most people miss: while the WNBA hasn’t yet played an official game in Asia, the NBA has already forged a multi-year partnership with the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), offering China’s men’s and women’s national teams opportunities to train and compete in the U.S. The agreement also paves the way for Chinese teams to participate in the NBA Summer League and pre-season WNBA games. But here’s the question: will this partnership truly benefit the WNBA, or will it remain in the shadow of its male counterpart? As the league eyes this ambitious move, it’s worth asking: How can we ensure women’s basketball gets the spotlight it deserves on the global stage? Let’s discuss—what do you think?
