The Women’s National Basketball Players’ Association has submitted a revised counterproposal to the WNBA, offering key concessions on revenue sharing and housing arrangements to advance collective bargaining negotiations.
The updated offer, delivered to league officials on Friday evening, represents a significant shift in the union’s financial demands.
Sources indicate the new terms include a reduction in the players’ desired share of gross revenue, amounting to nearly $100m in total reductions.
Financial framework adjustments
The players’ union is now requesting 26% of gross revenue over the lifetime of the agreement, down from the 27.5% figure outlined in their previous submission from mid-February.
Despite this movement, a substantial gap remains between the two sides regarding the fundamental economic model of the league.
The WNBA has held firm on a system based on net revenue, offering a split that equates to less than 15% of gross revenue.
Under the union’s latest plan, the salary cap for the first year of the deal would remain unchanged at approximately $9.5m.
By contrast, the league’s most recent proposal set the 2026 cap at $5.65m, though this would still represent a significant increase from the 2025 figure.
Housing and roster updates
The revised document also includes compromises regarding the provision of player accommodation.
Teams would no longer be obligated to provide housing for athletes earning at least 75% of the maximum salary, a threshold lowered from the previously requested 80%.
Negotiators for the players also removed a stipulation that required athletes to be on multi-year contracts to qualify for this housing exemption.
Discussions regarding developmental players are ongoing, with the union proposing a six-year service limit for these specific roster spots.
The league, which expects each franchise to carry two developmental players, had previously suggested a limit of four or five years based on minutes played.
Context of negotiations
This counterproposal arrives just one week after the WNBA submitted its own offer, which guaranteed housing for all players in 2026 before phasing it out.
Negotiations continue as both parties seek to capitalise on the sport’s explosive growth in popularity while ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been cleared to return for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday following an abdominal injury.
The Canadian point guard was absent from the official injury report released on Thursday evening.
It marks the end of a nine-game absence for the superstar, who suffered the strain during a victory over the Orlando Magic on 3 February.
Western Conference race tightens
Oklahoma City managed a 5-4 record while their captain was sidelined.
However, their cushion at the top of the Western Conference has become precarious.
The San Antonio Spurs have utilised a 10-game winning streak to trim the Thunder’s lead to just two games.
San Antonio also hold the crucial season tiebreaker between the two franchises, adding pressure to Friday’s home fixture.
MVP form
Before his layoff, Gilgeous-Alexander was in imperious form for the defending champions.
He is averaging 31.8 points, 6.4 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game this campaign.
The 26-year-old remains the clear favourite to win back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards.
Squad depth tested
While the return of their talisman is a major boost, the Thunder remain without other key contributors.
All-NBA wing Jalen Williams is scheduled to be re-evaluated in approximately one week.
Williams had briefly returned before the All-Star break but subsequently aggravated a right hamstring strain.
Reserve guard Ajay Mitchell also remains unavailable.
Mitchell was nearing a return from an abdominal issue but suffered an ankle sprain during a workout.
The Duke Blue Devils have risen to the summit of the latest Power Rankings, establishing themselves as the team to beat just weeks out from the NCAA tournament.
Jon Scheyer’s side have climbed to the number one position in the AP poll following a string of dominant performances.
There was little debate regarding their ascension after a commanding victory over Michigan in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
The Blue Devils showcased their credentials as the nation’s premier defensive unit, denying the Wolverines transition opportunities and controlling the offensive glass.
Defensive solidity and offensive flair
While their defensive rigidity has been laudable, the ACC leaders have also discovered a rich vein of scoring form.
Sandwiched around the defensive masterclass against Michigan were high-scoring routs of Syracuse and Notre Dame, where the team tallied 201 total points.
Much of this success is driven by Cameron Boozer, who has cemented his status as the favourite for National Player of the Year.
The Durham-based outfit now appear to have the inside track to the number one overall seed for the upcoming NCAA tournament.
With a 26-2 record, they currently sit first in the NET rankings and are tied with Arizona for the most Quadrant 1 wins with 12.
Scheyer silencing the doubters
Head coach Jon Scheyer has orchestrated a remarkable campaign despite his roster being picked outside the top five in the preseason.
The second-year boss has arguably not received sufficient credit for guiding a team with less raw talent than last year’s squad to a superior standing.
Duke’s only two defeats this season have come in the dying seconds of contests, highlighting their consistency.
Scheyer also recently became the first head coach in ACC history to record multiple 40-point road wins against conference opponents.
To maintain their pole position ahead of Selection Sunday, the Blue Devils must navigate a tricky final stretch.
They face three top-30 calibre opponents in their remaining fixtures: Virginia, NC State, and arch-rivals North Carolina.
Wildcats lead the chasing pack
Sitting just behind Duke in the rankings are the Arizona Wildcats, who also boast a formidable 26-2 record.
Head coach Tommy Lloyd has relied heavily on the clutch performances of his backcourt stars, Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries.
While they may not possess the statistical volume of other elite guards, the duo combined for 49 points in a recent victory over Baylor.
With the postseason looming, both Duke and Arizona look poised to battle for the ultimate billing as the tournament’s top seed.
The San Antonio Spurs have extended their winning streak to 10 games and closed the gap on Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City Thunder with a narrow victory over the Toronto Raptors.
Devin Vassell top-scored with 21 points, while team-mate De’Aaron Fox added 20 in the 110-107 triumph at Scotiabank Arena.
It marks a 10th successive victory for the Texan franchise, a feat they have not achieved since the 2015-16 campaign.
Victor Wembanyama contributed just 12 points but made a decisive impact at the other end of the court.
The French centre produced his fifth block of the night with 44 seconds remaining to deny the hosts.
Gregg Popovich’s side have improved their record to 42-16, placing pressure on the conference frontrunners.
Pistons overtake Thunder for NBA’s best record
Oklahoma City remain top of the West on 45-15 despite falling to a 124-116 defeat by the Detroit Pistons.
The visitors were missing reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for a ninth consecutive match due to injury.
Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren both posted 29 points for Detroit, who now boast the league’s best record at 43-14.
The result extends the Pistons’ lead at the summit of the Eastern Conference over the Boston Celtics.
Jokic stars for Nuggets as Bucks win
Boston fell to a 103-84 loss against the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets.
Serbian star Nikola Jokic dominated for the hosts with a double-double of 30 points and 12 rebounds.
Elsewhere, the Milwaukee Bucks edged past the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-116 despite the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Greek forward remained sidelined with a calf problem, while the Cavaliers were missing new signing James Harden with a broken thumb.
The Houston Rockets secured their largest win of the season by beating the Sacramento Kings 128-97.
Steve Kerr’s Golden State Warriors were also victorious, winning 133-112 at the Memphis Grizzlies.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden is questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks after suffering a non-displaced fracture in his right thumb.
The 10-time NBA All-Star sustained the injury during Tuesday’s encounter with the New York Knicks.
X-rays taken the following morning confirmed the damage to the veteran’s hand.
Despite the diagnosis, the Cavaliers have listed him as questionable for their immediate fixture against the Milwaukee Bucks.
He is set to undergo further treatment and evaluation before the team makes a definitive decision on his long-term availability.
Impact since trade deadline move
The former MVP arrived in Ohio from the Los Angeles Clippers via a trade on 3 February.
Since making the switch to the Eastern Conference, he has averaged 18.9 points, eight rebounds and 4.6 assists across seven appearances.
Prior to his departure from Los Angeles, the 35-year-old was recording 25.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 44 games this season.
NBA MVP favourites Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic are facing the risk of ineligibility for the award as both stars edge closer to the league’s missed-games threshold.
The race for the regular-season honour has tightened significantly in recent weeks due to the uncertainty surrounding the availability of the leading contenders.
Under current NBA regulations, players are prohibited from qualifying for major postseason awards if they miss more than 17 games during the campaign.
Fitness struggles impacting odds
Gilgeous-Alexander remains the consensus betting favourite but was ruled out of Wednesday’s fixture against the Detroit Pistons.
The Oklahoma City Thunder guard is recovering from an abdominal strain that has kept him sidelined since early February.
Having now missed 11 games, the Canadian international must appear in at least 16 of Oklahoma City’s final 22 matches to remain eligible for a second consecutive MVP title.
The situation is even more precarious for Nikola Jokic.
Denver’s Serbian centre has already missed 16 games this season.
Should the former MVP sit out just two more contests, he will be mathematically eliminated from contention regardless of his statistical dominance.
Market shifts towards Cunningham
The potential disqualification of the frontrunners has driven significant betting interest toward Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham.
Over the last week, Cunningham has attracted more MVP bets at major sportsbooks than all other players combined.
His odds have shortened dramatically, moving from 14-1 to 9-2 as punters look for viable alternatives to the questionable favourites.
San Antonio Spurs sensation Victor Wembanyama is also hovering near the danger zone.
The French prodigy has missed 14 games and faces a tight schedule to meet the league’s mandatory participation criteria.
Despite the eligibility concerns, a recent straw poll conducted by ESPN indicated that Gilgeous-Alexander remains the clear choice among media voters, provided he meets the threshold.
The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a dramatic 110-109 defeat by the Orlando Magic after Luka Doncic and LeBron James failed to execute on the final possession.
Orlando took a one-point lead with just 6.7 seconds remaining following a putback from center Wendell Carter Jr.
James found Doncic in space on the left wing following a timeout, but the guard declined the open three-pointer.
Instead of shooting, the Slovenian attempted to drive and was immediately double-teamed by the Magic defence.
Doncic was forced to pivot and return the ball to James, who missed an off-balance 27-foot effort as the buzzer sounded.
‘That is on me’
The disjointed final play capped a frustrating night for the Lakers, who had earlier surrendered a 12-point second-half lead.
Doncic, who struggled from the field shooting just 8-for-24, admitted he misjudged the situation.
“I know I was open, but I just thought I was a little bit far,” said Doncic.
“I tried to take one dribble closer and I probably shouldn’t have picked up the ball and just tried to attack.”
When asked if he realised the clock situation, the former Dallas star acknowledged his hesitation proved costly.
“I think I thought it was more time,” he added.
“It was enough time to get a better look, try to drive the ball, so that’s why I picked [up my dribble]. That’s on me.”
James offers support despite defeat
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, was left to take a desperate fadeaway shot after the play broke down.
Despite the confusion, the 39-year-old believed his team-mate initially had the opportunity to win the game.
“I thought he had a good look, and it looked like he kind of just lost his balance,” said James.
“I didn’t have a rhythm with the ball, whatever the case may be. And it kind of allowed [Orlando’s defense] to get back in front of him.”
The loss marks a significant statistical shift for Los Angeles.
It is the first time this season the franchise has lost when leading after three quarters, ending a 25-0 run in such scenarios.
The result leaves the Lakers with a 4-4 record on their eight-game homestand.
They now face a challenging road trip, beginning with the Phoenix Suns on Thursday followed by a visit to the Golden State Warriors.
Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel has become the fastest player in NBA history to reach 200 three-pointers during a dominant 131-99 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
The 20-year-old American scored 21 points, including three shots from beyond the arc, to help condemn the hosts to a 10th consecutive defeat.
Knueppel achieved the milestone in just his 58th career game, surpassing the previous pace set in the league.
Brandon Miller also contributed significantly with 23 points as the visitors secured their eighth straight win on the road.
Chasing rookie history
The former Duke Blue Devils standout is now closing in on the all-time rookie record for threes in a single season.
With a league-leading 201 made three-pointers, the fourth overall draft pick needs just six more to eclipse Keegan Murray’s tally of 206 set in the 2022-23 campaign.
His rapid ascent has drawn high praise from within the franchise.
“It is exciting and refreshing,” said Hornets head coach Charles Lee.
“It elevates our whole culture when you have a guy who is that good but that humble and has no ego, and it becomes contagious throughout the whole organisation.”
Harden shines for Cavaliers
Elsewhere, James Harden scored 20 points to guide the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 109-94 win against the New York Knicks.
The victory allowed Cleveland to draw level with the Knicks in the Eastern Conference standings on 37 wins and 22 losses.
Harden, an 11-time All-Star who joined from the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this month, is still seeking his first NBA championship at the age of 36.
“We’re working to build something special, and each game is an opportunity to get better,” said the veteran guard.
“Tonight was a good step for us.”
Celtics and Thunder secure wins
The Boston Celtics strengthened their grip on second place in the East with a comfortable 97-81 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers put 135 points past the Indiana Pacers, leaving last year’s finalists at the bottom of the conference.
In the West, conference leaders Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Toronto Raptors 116-107.
The Orlando Magic edged the Los Angeles Lakers by a single point, 110-109, while the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Portland Trail Blazers in a high-scoring affair.