Talks stall as WNBA and players miss CBA deadline. Salary disputes linger, leaving free agency uncertain and the season's start in jeopardy.
Negotiations between the WNBA and its players’ union will continue under the terms of the existing labor agreement after the sides failed to reach a new collective bargaining deal by Friday night’s deadline.
The expiration of the most recent extension sends the league into a status-quo period under U.S. labor law, allowing teams to operate under the prior agreement while talks continue. Although league operations are not immediately disrupted, the unresolved negotiations introduce uncertainty that could eventually delay the start of the 2026 season if a new deal is not finalized.
One immediate question centers on free agency. According to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, the league proposed a temporary moratorium on free agency activity until a new CBA is ratified. The union did not agree to that pause.
Without a moratorium in place, teams have been told they may begin issuing qualifying offers starting Sunday to restricted free agents or players they intend to designate with franchise tags, the person said. However, with no clarity on what the future salary cap or compensation framework will look like, teams are not expected to make significant roster decisions.
The financial divide between the sides remains wide. The league’s most recent proposal would guarantee a maximum base salary of $1 million in 2026, with the potential to rise to $1.3 million through revenue sharing, according to the person familiar with the talks. That would represent a sharp increase from the current maximum salary of $249,000 and could approach nearly $2 million over the life of the agreement.
Under that proposal, players would receive more than 70% of net revenue after expenses. Those expenses would include investments in upgraded facilities, charter flights, five-star hotels, medical services, security and arenas. The average salary would exceed $530,000 in 2026, up from roughly $120,000, and grow to more than $770,000 later in the deal. Minimum salaries would increase from $67,000 to approximately $250,000 in the first year.
Revenue sharing remains the central point of contention. The union’s counterproposal would give players roughly 30% of gross revenue before expenses, along with a $10.5 million team salary cap and incremental increases in the players’ share each year, the person said.
As the deadline approached, tensions spilled into public view. Late Friday, the WNBA Players Association released a statement accusing the league of stalling negotiations and failing to engage with urgency.
“At midnight, the 2020 WNBA-WNBPA Collective Bargaining Agreement will expire. Despite demonstrating our willingness to compromise in order to get a deal done, the WNBA and its teams have failed to meet us at the table with the same spirit and seriousness. Instead, they have remained committed to undervaluing player contributions, dismissing player concerns, and running out the clock,” the statement said.
The WNBA disputed that characterization and said it remains focused on reaching an agreement that substantially increases player compensation while supporting long-term growth.
In a statement provided to The Associated Press earlier this week, the league said negotiations are ongoing.
“The WNBA continues to negotiate in good faith with the goal of reaching a deal as quickly as possible,” the league said. “Our focus remains on reaching an agreement that significantly increases player compensation while ensuring the long-term growth of the business.”
The sides had already agreed to two extensions of the current CBA, with the most recent expiring Friday night. Despite several meetings this week, they were unable to bridge gaps on core economic issues, leaving talks unresolved as the league moves forward under the status-quo framework.