WNBA Faces Potential Work Stoppage Amidst CBA Deadlock with Players Union

The WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) are stuck in tense negotiations over the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). With the deadline creeping up and no extension on the table, it’s hard not to wonder what’s next for the league.

Both sides have already pushed the deadline back twice since the original October 31 date. Now, with no sign of a third extension, things look shaky—either they’ll keep things as they are, or we might see a work stoppage.

Current State of Negotiations

As of Thursday morning, neither the WNBA nor the WNBPA has offered an extension. The clock’s ticking, and there’s not much movement.

Sticking Points in Negotiations

Several thorny issues are holding up a deal:

• Player Compensation: Both sides want higher pay for players, but they can’t agree on how to structure the new salary system.
• Revenue Sharing: The league’s plan would give players less than 15 percent of total league and team revenue, while the union wants about 30 percent.
• Expansion Fees: The league and union have totally different takes on how to count expansion fees in revenue calculations.

Possible Outcomes

If they don’t reach a deal or extend the deadline, a few things could happen.

Status Quo Period

Players could still use team facilities and get medical benefits during a status quo period. But really, that’s just a band-aid—the real problems would still be there.

Player Strike

The WNBPA’s executive committee already has the green light to call a strike if needed. Back in December, 93 percent of players voted, and 98 percent said yes to a strike. It wouldn’t take much for the union to pull that trigger if talks stay stuck.

League Lockout

The league says it isn’t planning a lockout right now. Still, if negotiations totally fall apart, that could change fast.

Key Differences in Proposals

The proposals from both sides are worlds apart, and that’s making things messy.

Player Compensation

Right now, the top WNBA salary sits around $250,000. The league’s offer would bump that up to over $1.3 million in year one and nearly $2 million by the end of the deal. Average pay would climb too, starting above $530,000 and rising past $780,000. The league’s aiming for a business model that actually works long-term, but is it enough?

Revenue Sharing

The union wants players to get about 30 percent of total league and team revenue, which would mean a salary cap near $10 million. The league’s offer, though, keeps player share under 15 percent. That’s a pretty big gap.

Expansion Fees

The league says expansion fees don’t actually add revenue—they call it a wash. The union disagrees and wants those fees counted in the revenue split. No surprise, that’s one more thing they can’t see eye to eye on.

Other Negotiation Topics

It’s not just about pay and revenue splits. There’s more on the table.

Number of Games per Season

How many games should they play each season? Both sides need to find a balance between player health and the league’s business goals. Not exactly an easy call.

Facility Standards

The union’s pushing for better training and medical facilities. Players want safer, more professional conditions—who wouldn’t?

Salary Exceptions and Retirement Benefits

They’re also talking about salary exceptions and retirement benefits. These details matter for making sure players are taken care of, both now and after they hang up their jerseys.

Historical Context

Here’s a wild stat: in almost 30 years, the WNBA’s never lost games to a strike or work stoppage. That fact makes this standoff feel even bigger. The pressure’s on, no doubt.

Looking Ahead

The deadline’s creeping up, and both sides really need to keep talking if they want a deal that works for everyone. Breanna Stewart from the Liberty, who’s also a vice president at the WNBPA, says she’s hopeful negotiations will keep going even after the deadline.

Still, it’s pretty clear they haven’t made a ton of progress yet. There’s no denying the road ahead looks tough.