NEW YORK — Negotiations between the WNBA and its players’ union stretched past 14 hours Thursday, marking the third consecutive day of talks aimed at reaching a new collective bargaining agreement. The session, which began at 11 a.m. EDT, continued into early Friday morning, as both sides attempt to avert disruption to the upcoming season. The WNBA had initially indicated a Tuesday deadline for a handshake agreement to ensure the season would start on schedule, but that timeline appears to have shifted as discussions continue.
The core issue remains revenue sharing, a sticking point that has prolonged the negotiations. While significant progress has been made on other fronts, bridging the gap on how league revenue is distributed remains critical. The union is seeking a larger share of the financial gains the WNBA has experienced in recent years, fueled by increased viewership and growing popularity of the league.
As of late Thursday night, key members of the WNBPA’s executive committee – Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Alysha Clark, and Brianna Turner – had departed the bargaining session around midnight, while union leadership, including Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson, remained to continue discussions with league representatives. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert expressed optimism on Wednesday, describing the league’s latest proposal as a “real historic and transformational deal” for the players.
“Huge gains and salaries, benefits, everything you’re seeing, but beyond that when you witness the whole thing, huge, huge benefits,” Engelbert said. “We’re proud of the deal we have on the table. I think it’s, again, huge gains for the players, while again, balancing that with the health of the league.”
The league’s most recent proposal, presented Wednesday night, included an increased salary cap offer of $6.2 million for the first year of the agreement, up from a previous offer of $5.75 million, according to a person familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. This represents a substantial increase from last year’s team salary cap of $1.5 million. The proposal also outlines significant increases in player compensation, with average salaries projected to rise to $570,000 in the first year and $850,000 by the sixth year. The maximum player salary would exceed $1.3 million in the first year and approach $2 million by the final year of the agreement.
Despite the league’s stated deadline, WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike indicated Wednesday that the union did not view it as a firm constraint. “We haven’t ever really considered that as a timeline that’s been something to prioritize on our side, because we have always been negotiating in good faith,” she said.
Should an agreement in principle be reached, the league anticipates needing several weeks to finalize the full collective bargaining agreement. Following that, the expansion draft for the new franchises in Portland and Toronto is tentatively scheduled for April 1-6, according to a timetable obtained by the AP. Free agent qualifying offers, including franchise player tags, would be issued April 7-8, followed by a three-day negotiation period with the more than 80 percent of players who are free agents. The signing period is currently slated for April 12-18, with training camps opening the following day and the season potentially starting on May 8.
However, these dates are contingent on reaching a resolution on the revenue sharing model. The union’s proposal from the previous week requested an average of 26 percent of gross revenue – revenue before expenses – over the life of the CBA, starting with 25 percent in the first year. The WNBA has deemed this figure unrealistic, countering with proposals offering more than 70 percent of net revenue, with that percentage increasing as the league’s revenue grows.
The ongoing negotiations highlight the evolving dynamics between the WNBA and its players, as the league continues to experience growth and increased visibility. The outcome of these talks will have a significant impact on the future of the league and the financial well-being of its athletes. The WNBPA has emphasized its commitment to securing a deal that reflects the players’ contributions to the league’s success.
As negotiations continue into Friday, the focus remains on finding common ground on revenue sharing and finalizing the details of a new collective bargaining agreement. The league and the union are expected to resume talks with the aim of reaching a resolution that will allow the 2026 WNBA season to proceed as planned.
What are your thoughts on the WNBA labor negotiations? Share your opinions in the comments below and join the conversation.
