With fewer than 100 days remaining before the scheduled start of the WNBA’s landmark 30th season, uncertainty continues to hang over the league. Collective Bargaining Agreement, or CBA, negotiations between the WNBA and the Nneka Ogwumike-led players’ union remain stalled, with little visible progress and a growing sense of urgency on both sides.
The union submitted a proposal more than a month ago, and the league has not issued a formal response. Sources familiar with the talks indicate there have been no full bargaining sessions in the new year, even as the calendar inches closer to key offseason dates tied to free agency, expansion plans, and the draft.
Nneka Ogwumike Calls WNBA CBA Talks Unconstructive
This silence is now increasing the tone of the conversation. Speaking publicly this week, WNBPA president Ogwumike made it clear that the lack of engagement has become a problem in itself.
“It’s not a constructive way to continue on these negotiations, especially considering the timeline that we’re in,” Ogwumike said.“To give the excuse that our proposal was not adequate is concerning.”
WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike gave an update on the CBA negotiations standstill.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 30, 2026
(via @FOS) pic.twitter.com/9lYWrKP3zz
As both sides remain distant on core economic issues, the league now finds itself racing against the calendar, and the next phase of this standoff is already beginning to take shape.
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Ogwumike has pushed back on the idea that time pressure should dictate concessions. Additionally, from the union’s perspective, the frustration goes far beyond just the process around numbers. The WNBPA’s latest proposal reportedly called for a $10.5 million salary cap and a 30% share of the league’s gross revenue, a framework the players believe better reflects the WNBA’s current growth and visibility.
Beyond salaries, the union is also pushing for structural changes. Those include eliminating the core designation, shortening rookie-scale contracts, securing mental health support, and preserving player housing benefits.
Nneka Ogwumike Sends Clear Message Regarding Players’ Payout
While negotiations remain frozen, Ogwumike’s broader message to league leadership has grown more direct. With the 2026 season looming, the players are no longer framing their demands as incremental progress but as a recalibration of value.
“When you look at how much is being made, that is basically a decimal,” Ogwumike said in a separate interview. “A fair share is all we’re looking for. And it’s more than a million.”
“Nneka Ogwumike Wants to See More WNBA Millionaires” — TIME (Sean Gregory)
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And with that, the union’s belief that the WNBA’s financial reality has shifted dramatically since the last agreement signed. The league also recently announced a long-term media rights deal reportedly worth more than $2 billion.
For the players, the union’s push for a gross-revenue model reflects a desire for transparency and direct participation in the league’s success, to a position that places them at odds with WNBA leadership and commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who have warned that meeting those demands could lead to substantial operating losses.
For now, neither side appears ready to move. And as training camps, roster decisions, and expansion plans wait in limbo, the question is how much ground each side is willing to give before the season itself takes the hit.