The WNBA is offering the players’ union a 30-day extension to continue negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement, hoping to avoid a lapse when the current deal expires Friday, according to The Associated Press.

The proposed extension, which has not yet been accepted by the WNBPA, would delay the looming deadline and allow both sides additional time to finalize what has been described as a potentially “transformative” deal for player compensation and benefits.

The offer comes amid growing strain between the league and the union as talks enter their final stretch. The people confirmed the league’s move to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made.

If agreed upon, the extension would mirror the approach taken in 2019, when the sides extended the expiring deal by 60 days and ultimately ratified the current CBA in January 2020.

WNBPA senior advisor and legal counsel Erin D. Drake recently signaled that progress remains slow, saying on a podcast published by The Athletic that “it takes two to tango” and that a deal wouldn’t be completed by the end of the week.

In response, the league issued a pointed statement disputing the suggestion that it has been negotiating in bad faith.

“We urge the Players Association to spend less time disseminating public misinformation and more time joining us in constructive engagement across the table,” the WNBA said in a statement.

League and union representatives have met several times in recent weeks, including once earlier this month in New York, a person familiar with the meetings said.

The players exercised their right to opt out of the existing CBA last year, seeking a new structure that includes increased revenue sharing, higher maximum salaries, expanded family benefits, and a more flexible salary cap system.

While the league has emphasized that it shares the goal of creating a deal that meaningfully boosts player pay, the gap between the sides remains unclear.

During the WNBA Finals earlier this month, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league is prepared to make major financial commitments in a new agreement.

“We want a transformative deal,” Engelbert said. “One that reflects the value our players bring to the game and grows the league in a sustainable way.”

Whether the union agrees to extend the current negotiating window could determine how much time remains to reach that goal — or whether the league’s labor talks enter uncharted territory for the first time in five years.