Being on the management side of any labor negotiations often comes with the tag of being the "heavy" or "bad guy" when it comes to disputes. NBA commissioner Adam Silver, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the league owners have tried to reframe the current WNBA collective bargaining process as both sides wanting similar things: continued growth for the league and prosperity for the players.

The players' association, however, has been much more aggressive in courting public opinion and criticizing the league and its negotiating tactics, with executive committee member Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx specifically targeting Engelbert's leadership.

In recent weeks, the WNBA has begun to push back at some of the union's claims with statements defending management's side. With WNBA

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