Intense WNBA negotiations push toward a landmark agreement. Commissioner Engelbert signals progress on revenue sharing and housing, hinting at a historic deal.
The WNBA’s long-running collective bargaining negotiations may be approaching a breakthrough. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert signaled optimism this week that the league and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) are closing in on a landmark agreement.
Although the latest extension deadline for a new CBA passed on March 10, both sides remain deep in negotiations. Still, Engelbert suggested the eventual deal could represent a transformative moment for the league.
“We’re working as hard as we can to get it done as quickly as possible,” Engelbert said via ESPN. “It’s complex. There’s a lot of system elements, a lot of structure elements. … This is a big, big league and we want to do everything we can for the players. We’re going to keep making progress.”
Her comments came after a marathon bargaining session that began Sunday afternoon and stretched past 3 a.m. ET on Monday. Negotiators are expected to continue talks this week, marking the seventh consecutive day of discussions between league officials and union leadership.
Despite the missed deadline, Engelbert maintained confidence that a deal would ultimately be reached.
“We are going to keep going. We’re going to get this deal done,” Engelbert said. “And it’s going to be historic.”
The urgency surrounding the negotiations reflects the stakes for both sides. With the 2026 WNBA season scheduled to begin May 8, the league must finalize a new agreement soon to avoid potential disruptions to the calendar.
Key dates are already approaching, including the start of training camp on April 19 and preseason games beginning April 25. However, Engelbert acknowledged that the timeline could shift if negotiations continue to stretch.
“I wish I knew the answer to that,” she said when asked whether the season schedule could be affected. “But you see us here at three in the morning, four in the morning, five in the morning. That gives an indication that both sides are motivated.”
At the center of the negotiations are two major issues: revenue sharing and player housing benefits.
WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike said both topics remain critical to reaching a deal that players believe reflects the league’s rapid growth.
“It’s very important for us to nail those two things down,” Ogwumike said. “We’ve talked a lot about revenue share. It’s not even the elephant in the room — it’s just there. We’re going to talk about it.”
The union previously sought 40% of gross league revenue before lowering its request to roughly 26% during negotiations. The league, meanwhile, has proposed a system based on net revenue — income calculated after expenses.
Housing benefits have also emerged as a major point of discussion. The WNBA has historically covered housing for players, but the league has explored potential changes as salaries increase.
Ogwumike emphasized that the benefit remains particularly important for many players across the league.
“Housing is big,” she said. “People are starting to understand how meaningful something like a housing benefit is, especially for the women in the W.”
While disagreements remain, both sides appear committed to continuing negotiations until a resolution is reached.
And if Engelbert’s comments prove accurate, the final agreement could mark one of the most significant moments in the WNBA’s history.