The WNBA Finals are supposed to be a showcase of the league’s best — the culmination of months of intense competition, elite talent, and passionate fan support. But this year, the story dominating headlines isn’t about who’s winning on the court — it’s about the empty seats off it. And now, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is stepping in, confronting the WNBA’s leadership over the alarming optics of a half-empty arena during the league’s biggest games.

Sources close to the situation say Silver, who has long been one of the WNBA’s biggest advocates, privately met with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert following Game 2 of the Finals, where large sections of seats sat glaringly vacant. What was supposed to be a celebration of women’s basketball excellence instead looked more like a regular-season afterthought — and Silver, according to insiders, was not happy.

“Adam was blunt,” one source revealed. “He said the Finals should never look like this on television. The optics are embarrassing for the league, and they undermine the progress that’s been made. He wanted answers — and solutions.”

At the heart of the problem is a truth the WNBA has struggled to confront: the Caitlin Clark effect. The rookie phenom’s arrival this season sent attendance, ratings, and merchandise sales skyrocketing, singlehandedly transforming the league’s visibility. But with Clark’s team eliminated from playoff contention, the Finals have seen a dramatic dip in fan interest. Games that once sold out in minutes now have entire sections empty, and television viewership has noticeably cooled.

Silver’s concern is not just about appearances. League officials fear that the dependence on one player’s star power could undermine the WNBA’s long-term stability. “You can’t build a sustainable league around one person,” Silver reportedly told Engelbert. “We need to figure out why those fans aren’t sticking around and what we can do to keep them engaged even when Caitlin isn’t playing.”

The confrontation underscores a growing tension within women’s basketball. While Clark’s presence has been an undeniable boon, it has also exposed deep challenges — from marketing gaps and storytelling shortcomings to a lack of broader fan investment in teams and players beyond the sport’s biggest name.

Engelbert, for her part, acknowledged the issue during a press briefing, but defended the league’s progress. “We’re proud of how far we’ve come this season,” she said. “Caitlin Clark brought an incredible wave of new fans, and our job now is to make sure they fall in love with the entire league, not just one player. We’re looking at new strategies to grow engagement and ensure that the Finals reflect the best of what we have to offer.”

But many believe the problem runs deeper than marketing. Critics argue that the WNBA has failed to properly showcase its stars, telling individual stories that connect with fans on a deeper level. Others point to the league’s scheduling, ticket pricing, and venue choices as barriers to growth. “It’s not just about Caitlin Clark,” one sports business analyst said. “It’s about creating a product people care about even when their favorite player isn’t on the floor.”

Silver’s involvement signals that the NBA — which owns 42% of the WNBA and has invested heavily in its expansion — is paying close attention to these struggles. In recent years, he has pushed for more aggressive promotion of women’s basketball, increased media deals, and greater investment in infrastructure. But the Finals debacle has made it clear that more urgent action may be needed.

“This is a pivotal moment,” Silver reportedly told Engelbert during their meeting. “We can’t squander the momentum this season created. If fans show up for one player, we need to turn that into loyalty for the league.”

For players, the optics are equally frustrating. Several WNBA stars, including A’Ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, have voiced their disappointment at the empty arenas and questioned why more fans aren’t supporting the Finals. Others see it as a wake-up call for the league to rethink its approach.

“This should be our biggest stage,” Wilson said after Game 2. “It’s on all of us — the league, the teams, and the players — to figure out how to keep fans invested. But this can’t happen again.”

Whether the WNBA can turn things around remains to be seen. The league is reportedly exploring a series of new initiatives — from fan outreach programs to revamped ticketing strategies — ahead of next season. But the shadow of Caitlin Clark’s absence looms large, raising uncomfortable questions about whether the league’s explosive growth this year was built on a shaky foundation.

For now, Adam Silver’s intervention has sent a clear message: the status quo isn’t good enough. The WNBA has a golden opportunity to convert its newfound visibility into lasting support — but the empty seats at the Finals are a warning sign that the work is far from done.