The WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) have agreed to a moratorium on league matters, according to sources close to the situation. This moratorium is necessary because the parties failed to reach an agreement on a new collective agreement or an extension of the previous one before the established deadline. Negotiations for a new collective agreement continue amid a stalemate, while both parties seek a transformative agreement. However, significant differences persist on several key issues, especially in the structure of a revenue-sharing system. With the previous agreement expired, the parties entered a statu quo period, in which the working conditions of the previous collective agreement are maintained. Last week, WNBA offices were informed that teams should prepare to extend qualifying offers and core designations under the expired agreement. However, it was widely expected that players would not want to sign contracts while a new salary system was being negotiated with significant increases in compensation.
Almost all league veterans are free agents this offseason, anticipating a new collective bargaining agreement.
The moratorium would halt the initial stages of free agency, where teams would seek to offer qualifying offers and core designations to players.
