The WNBA lottery draft was an indication of the WNBA’s willingness to proceed with the 2026 season and adhere to the schedules. But it seems that the league missed out on one crucial deadline- the CBA deadline. The WNBA and WNBPA agreed on a 30-day extension, which put November 30 as its new deadline.
But with just ‘hours’ remaining in hand, the league might need to look for an alternative to avoid a work stoppage. WNBA proposed a mega offer with $ 1.1 million salary, but the players’ association rejected the offer. ESPN insider exposes real reason players are furious with WNBA’s CBA proposal.
Many expected the league to hand a counteroffer that would resolve the issue within a reasonable time, allowing them to reach an agreement. However, since mid-November, there has been no such news, which has kept fans wondering about the next possible steps.
Possible Next Step For WNBA And WNBPA
By far, the ‘revenue sharing’ has been a buzzword in the league, which remained unresolved till the latest proposal. Fans feared a possible lockout, but the Lynx’s HC Cheryl Reeve seemed unfazed by the delay and remained confident, saying ‘We will get a deal.’ But how?
Specialist on sports law, Daniel Kelly II, an associate dean and professor at New York University, puts his points forward on the topic. “They’ll probably do another extension, yet if we get to the New Year without an agreement, a strike becomes a realistic option. Historically, that has led to the best deal for players. For the NBA, the 50–50 deal came after the strike in 2011–12. It almost seems like you have to push to the edge to get the deal you want,” Kelly said.
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The WNBA’s Players & Owners Are Fighting Again…
Today we have some WNBA CBA updates… the never ending CBA negotiations continue and the official deadline for the league. The WNBA has offered players a 30 day extension for a new collective… pic.twitter.com/BinveomCXD
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Understanding the main reason for WNBPA’s rejections, Kelly added, “Players are pushing for revenue-sharing arrangements similar to those in men’s professional leagues, rather than fixed salary increases that don’t keep pace with the WNBA’s growth in media deals and team valuations. The business is growing exponentially, yet they want the players’ salaries to increase at a fixed amount.”
Although analysts and players blame Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for the delay, it is worth noting that many other factors are also influencing the WNBA’s proposals and the WNBPA’s rejections.
Unseen Issues Impacting WNBA-WNBPA CBA Deal
Many view the WNBA as a unified organization that is negotiating with the WNBPA, with Englebert as its primary representative. But its ownership structure adds a layer of complexity to the discussion. The league is comprised of three major investors – the NBA itself owns 42% of the WNBA, while team owners hold the remaining 58% in the league. The remaining 16% belongs to a private equity group.
While these investors are not directly involved in the discussions, Englebert represents all investors and is accountable to each one of them. This not only lengthens the process but adds complexity to the simple two-party discussions.
Yet the league showed an optimistic approach and could come up with the solution sooner to get the system running smoothly once again.