The WNBA is facing one of the most embarrassing crises in its history — and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is reportedly livid. With ticket prices for the WNBA Finals plummeting to as low as $6 and entire sections of arenas sitting empty, sources say Silver has confronted WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert directly, furious over what he sees as a catastrophic failure of leadership and marketing that has left the league floundering without its biggest star, Caitlin Clark.

The stunning collapse comes just weeks after a record-breaking regular season driven almost entirely by Clark’s unprecedented popularity. From sellout crowds and soaring TV ratings to a global media spotlight, Clark’s arrival transformed the WNBA into one of the hottest sports stories of the year. But now, with Clark’s Indiana Fever eliminated from the playoffs, that buzz has evaporated — exposing the league’s deep dependence on her star power.

The numbers are jaw-dropping. Ticket resale prices for the Finals have plunged by more than 85%, with some fans able to attend championship games for less than the cost of a burger. Television ratings have dropped sharply compared to Clark-led regular-season games, and social media chatter around the Finals has slowed to a crawl. Photos of near-empty arenas during what should be the WNBA’s marquee event are circulating widely online, fueling criticism that the league has squandered the momentum Clark brought.

Adam Silver, according to multiple league insiders, is furious. The NBA Commissioner — who oversees the WNBA and has championed its growth — is said to have confronted Engelbert over the debacle, questioning how the league allowed interest to collapse so dramatically. “He’s beyond frustrated,” one source said. “Silver knows what Caitlin Clark means to the WNBA’s future, and he feels the league has failed to build around that momentum. This Finals disaster was avoidable.”

Silver’s anger reportedly centers on two key issues: the WNBA’s failure to capitalize on Clark’s popularity beyond her own games, and Engelbert’s handling of controversies involving the rookie star. Throughout the season, Clark was at the center of repeated clashes with officials, questionable calls, and a perceived lack of institutional support — controversies that many fans believe drove new viewers away. Despite Clark’s record-breaking performances, the league often appeared reluctant to embrace her rising profile, a stance that now looks shortsighted in light of the Finals’ empty seats.

“This isn’t just about ticket prices,” another source explained. “It’s about how the league positioned itself when it had a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Adam feels they fumbled it. Instead of building a league-wide marketing push around Clark and using that momentum to elevate all teams and players, they treated her impact like a problem to manage. Now they’re paying the price.”

Fans, too, are voicing outrage. “I paid hundreds to see Clark in the regular season — now the Finals are six bucks and half the arena is empty?” one fan wrote on social media. “This is humiliating for the league.” Others accused WNBA leadership of alienating the new wave of fans Clark brought to the sport. “They mocked her fans, they downplayed her impact, and now they’re shocked no one’s watching without her,” another user posted. “What did they expect?”

The criticism is especially sharp given how dominant Clark’s presence was throughout the season. Her games consistently drew the highest ratings, her jersey topped sales charts, and her influence helped push WNBA viewership and ticket revenue to record highs. But with her team out of the postseason, the Finals have struggled to maintain even a fraction of that energy — a stark contrast that underscores just how much the league’s fortunes now hinge on a single player.

For Engelbert, the fallout could be severe. Already under fire for her handling of officiating controversies and perceived disconnect from players and fans, this latest debacle has intensified calls for change. Some insiders are even questioning whether her leadership is sustainable. “If the Finals are supposed to showcase the best of the WNBA and instead they highlight everything wrong with it, that’s a leadership failure,” one former executive said bluntly.

Silver, meanwhile, is said to be exploring ways to prevent such a collapse from happening again. Ideas reportedly under discussion include restructuring the postseason format, increasing league-wide marketing efforts around key stars, and even rethinking leadership roles within the WNBA itself. While no official decisions have been made, sources say Silver is determined to ensure the league doesn’t repeat what he sees as a self-inflicted disaster.

“This should have been a celebration of everything great about the WNBA,” one league source said. “Instead, it’s turned into a cautionary tale about what happens when you don’t listen to fans and don’t build around your stars. Adam knows this, and he’s not going to let it slide.”

As the Finals limp to their conclusion, one thing is undeniable: Caitlin Clark’s impact on the WNBA is far larger than anyone could have predicted — and her absence has revealed just how much the league still relies on her. For Adam Silver, the embarrassing scenes of empty arenas and rock-bottom ticket prices are not just a warning sign — they’re a call to action.

Whether Cathy Engelbert survives this storm remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the WNBA’s future — and its credibility — may depend on how it responds to this crisis.