WNBA and players union continue CBA talks ahead of Tuesday deadline
The WNBA and its players union exchanged new collective bargaining proposals over the weekend, but remain without an agreement ahead of Tuesday’s crucial deadline to protect the 2026 season schedule.
Nearly 18 months of negotiations have yet to produce a new deal for the league.
League officials previously informed the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) that an agreement must be reached by March 10 to avoid delaying the upcoming campaign.
Union questions pressure tactics
The players’ union has viewed the Tuesday cut-off as a negotiation tactic designed to force their hand.
Conversely, executives point to the severe revenue losses that both the organisation and individual franchises would face if the season is postponed.
With just 59 days until the scheduled May 8 tip-off, both sides swapped formal documents on Friday and Saturday evening.
Players demand in-person negotiations
High-profile figures within the sport are now calling for a physical meeting to resolve the outstanding issues.
Speaking at a USA Basketball camp in Miami, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark expressed frustration at the standoff.
“I don’t understand why we don’t just get in a room and iron it out and shake hands,” Clark said.
“That’s how business is. You look each other in the eye, you shake hands, you respect both sides. For me, that’s what I would love to see.”
Stewart seeks immediate resolution
WNBPA vice president Breanna Stewart echoed those sentiments, suggesting athletes are prepared for marathon talks.
“I think that would be great for us all to sit in a room until we really get it done,” the two-time WNBA champion said.
“If that means sitting in there for hours and hours at a time, let’s do it. That’s for the better of the player.”
Revenue sharing remains primary hurdle
The exact contents of the latest weekend proposals have not been leaked, hinting at the high-stakes nature of the current phase.
Historically, overall compensation and the equitable distribution of league income have been the most significant dividing lines between the two parties.
Previous offers showed a massive gap regarding revenue sharing and salary cap calculations.
The league recently proposed an average player share of over 70% of net revenue, alongside a significant salary cap increase to $5.75m for the 2026 season.
