Players Union Shows Urgency As Meetings Continue Between WNBPA And WNBA Following CBA Stalemate

As the WNBA season is coming closer, things are getting more and more complicated. As the draft and the free agency are yet to be completed, the need of the hour is to find a CBA solution. And that is exactly what the players’ union is trying to do. 

Following a 12-hour meeting, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated that there is still ‘work to do.’ After disagreements over the terms of the contract, it has been 18 months since the two parties reached a decision. But now, with a third straight day of meetings, WNBPA is showing some real intent.

WNBPA President Stresses Having A Full WNBA Season In 2026

Back in January, the WNBA announced the 2026 schedule. However, with no confirmation on pay equity, the possibility of a lockout happening has been floated around. In order to prevent that from happening, the players’ union continued its marathon discussions on Thursday, too. Feeling positive, WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike hopes for a more ‘robust demonstration.’

“At the end of the day, we want a season. We want to play. We’ve heard that from the other side as well. We need to see a more robust demonstration of that as we continue on in these negotiations,” said Ogwumike. 

WNBA's latest CBA proposal includes:

– Salary cap starting at $6.2M (up from last offer of $5.75M and 2025 cap of $1.5M)
– Max salary of $1.3M in year 1 that grows to nearly $2M in year 6

The sides are starting a third day of extended negotiations today.

— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) March 12, 2026

According to reports from ‘The Oklahoma Herald,’ Thursday’s meeting started around 11 am EDT. As it lasted for over nine hours, the sides exchanged several proposals. So far, the sides have submitted as many as eight proposals. However, as a glimmer of hope, Wednesday night’s final proposal saw Engelbert and co. raise the first-year salary cap to $6.2 million from the previously proposed $5.75 million, as per ‘The Associated Press.’ 

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Meanwhile, as the situation is getting out of bounds, names like Charles Barkley are getting involved with the fiasco. But despite all the back and forth, the WNBA commissioner is confident about the negotiations. 

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert Feels Positive Following WNBPA Talks

The WNBA commissioner has recently faced a lot of flak from fans and critics. Lashing out at her publicly, Napheesa Collier accused her for lack of accountability. And as the feud with the union continues, Engelbert feels that the league will be able to deliver a ‘transformational deal.’

“Our proposal on the table is a real historic and transformational deal for these players. Huge gains and salaries, benefits, everything you’re seeing, but beyond that when you see the whole thing, huge, huge benefits. … We’re proud of the deal we have on the table. I think it’s, again, huge gains for the players, while again, balancing that with the health of the league,” said Engelbert. 

Cathy Engelbert is feeling positive about a ‘historic deal’ coming uphttps://t.co/Djx1teOQdY

— Debmallya Chakraborty (@DebmallyaC93340) March 13, 2026

Thus, with a lot going on, all eyes will be on how things pan out next.