The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) may be headed to China soon, according to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who hinted that the league is exploring its first-ever games in the basketball-loving nation.
Speaking to CNBC during the NBA’s preseason series in Macao, Silver said, “Once we get through a new collective bargaining agreement with our players, 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 
The comments come after the WNBA’s successful first regular-season game outside the U.S., when the Seattle Storm faced the Atlanta Dream in Vancouver this August. The league has previously staged preseason games in Mexico and the UK, signaling growing global ambitions.
China, one of the NBA’s largest markets, has long been a key partner in basketball’s international development. After a six-year pause in NBA games due to political tensions in 2019, this year’s preseason games in Macao mark a major step toward re-engagement — and possibly, a gateway for the WNBA.
However, Silver noted that finalizing a new WNBA collective bargaining agreement (CBA) remains crucial before overseas expansion. Negotiations have stalled as players push for higher salaries and a larger share of league revenue.
Beyond game scheduling, the NBA and Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) have launched a new multi-year partnership to nurture young talent and strengthen basketball development in China — including pathways for Chinese athletes to train and compete in the NBA Summer League and preseason WNBA games.
If successful, the WNBA’s debut in China would mark a historic leap for women’s sports — and a powerful symbol of basketball’s expanding global reach.
