WNBA: CBA negotiations hanging by a thread, will there be an agreement?

WNBA CBA Negotiations: Are They Close to a Deal?

A year ago, the WNBA Players Association announced its intention to terminate the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA), set to expire after the 2025 season. WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike described this decision as a “defining moment” for the league and for those who believe in progress. The players emphasized their desire for a new economic model based on equity, prioritizing “claiming the fair share of the business we have built”. Despite the time elapsed, the possibility of a new agreement before the deadline of October 31 generates uncertainty. Erin Drake, legal advisor to the WNBPA, expressed her doubts about reaching an agreement on the podcast “Good Game with Sarah Spain”. Since October 2024, tensions have been rising, with players expressing frustration over the lack of progress in negotiations. Napheesa Collier, vice president of the WNBPA, strongly criticized the WNBA’s management. With the 2025 season and the Finals already in the past, attention is focused on what is happening at the negotiating table. WNBPA Executive Director Terri Jackson assured that the players maintain their determination.

“The players are very clear and focused on what they are fighting for,” Jackson stated. “What they said a year ago is still valid today.”

Terri Jackson, Executive Director of the WNBPA

It’s not time to panic yet, as both sides could agree to an extension to extend negotiations until November or beyond. However, with time against them, the focus is on the most transcendental CBA talks in league history.

The Current State of Negotiations

Negotiation sessions involve various stakeholders, and the composition of the participants may vary in each meeting. On the league’s side, WNBA and NBA personnel attend, along with external advisors. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert participates in all substantive meetings, following the practice established in previous negotiations. On the union’s side, WNBPA staff and external advisors primarily participate, with the possible attendance of advisors and player leaders. The CBA committee of the players is usually made up of at least 33 players, including representatives from each team and members of the executive committee. The league has its own labor relations committee, composed of team owners and executives. The WNBA and the WNBPA first met in December for a preliminary conversation about the new CBA and held an in-person meeting during All-Star weekend in July. Since then, the WNBPA has met with player leadership “weekly, or even several times a week,” and both sides have held regular conversations, although the scope and participants have fluctuated.

The Main Obstacle: The Salary Model

Chelsea Gray, a player for the Las Vegas Aces, pointed out that the negotiations “are not where we want them to be.” The main point of conflict in the negotiations lies in how salaries should be determined. The WNBPA seeks a system where the percentage of revenue allocated to salaries grows with the business. In the NBA, the salary cap is based on basketball-related income (BRI), with players receiving approximately half of that amount. On the other hand, the WNBA’s proposals suggest a salary cap that increases at a fixed rate over time, as in the current CBA, with annual increases of 3%. The league’s salary cap was $1,507,100 in 2025, with a minimum salary of $66,079 and a maximum of $249,244. The current CBA also includes a revenue-sharing provision that would result in direct payments to the players if the league reaches certain revenue targets, but it has not yet been activated. In a statement, a WNBA spokesperson stated that they agree with the players that they deserve better compensation and to participate in the growth of the league through revenue sharing. The comprehensive proposal presented to the Players Association includes significant guaranteed increases in the salary cap and substantial revenue sharing without limits, which would allow player salaries to increase as the league’s business grows. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver suggested that WNBA players will receive a “significant increase” in their salaries, but highlighted “absolute numbers” as the way to measure that growth, rather than revenue sharing.

“I think ‘participation’ is not the right way to look at it because there’s a lot more revenue in the NBA,” Silver said. “I think they should look at the absolute numbers in terms of what they’re earning, and they’re going to get a big increase in this collective bargaining cycle, and they deserve it.”

Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner

The WNBPA, through its social media, reacted to Silver’s comments. WNBPA Executive Director Terri Jackson stated that the players are seeking a salary system that values their work and allows them to grow with the business they drive. Jackson accused the league of “buying time,” and criticized the league’s proposal for not being tied to the business and intentionally underestimating the players. The WNBA has experienced record growth, with an increase in attendance, viewership, merchandise sales, investment, and franchise valuations. However, Engelbert emphasized the importance of “balancing” the increase in player salaries with the “long-term viability of the league”. “I think we all agree that we are trying to return every possible dollar to the players, but we also want to incentivize the owners’ investment,” Engelbert said. “We want the owners to have a viable business. Obviously, we are considering expansion to 18 teams by the end of the decade. Therefore, it is important that the incoming owners have the opportunity for a viable economic model for the future.”

What Happens Now?

The current CBA expires in nine days, and although Sophie Cunningham suggested that “a possible lockout… is where it’s headed,” the deadline’s expiration doesn’t automatically imply that consequence. It’s more likely that, if an agreement isn’t reached beforehand, the league and the union will agree to an extension to have more time to negotiate. Engelbert mentioned something similar during her WNBA Finals press conference.

“While I expect us to meet the October 31 deadline, and that’s a real deadline from that perspective, we’ve extended deadlines in the past,” she said.

Cathy Engelbert, WNBA Commissioner

This occurred before the last CBA expired, with an initial deadline of October 31, 2019. Negotiations were originally extended 60 days, until December 31, and the new CBA was agreed on January 14, 2020. It was signed three days later. A source from the league does not believe a deal will be reached by the Halloween deadline, but is optimistic that a work stoppage will not occur. However, this year, extending the deadline has broader implications: with two new franchises, Toronto and Portland, set to begin play next season, an expansion draft must be held for both teams before a large free agency that will involve most of the league’s players who are not currently on their rookie contracts. The parameters for the expansion draft must be established in the new CBA. However, as the current deadline approaches, a league source reported that no rules or guidelines have been provided to any of the franchises. The Golden State Valkyries draft was held on December 6, 2024, and the 12 teams in the league were able to protect six players. Golden State selected 11 players, taking one from each team, except Seattle; the Valkyries passed on the available players from the Storm. Since Toronto and Portland will participate in this expansion draft, which means that two teams will complete the rosters, it is believed that the other teams could protect five players. Assuming an extension is agreed upon for the CBA talks, the source said their expectation is that the expansion draft will take place as soon as possible after the CBA is established. But, without knowing exactly how long the extension would last, it is difficult for the two new franchises to plan without a specific schedule or established rules.