At the stroke of January 10, 00:00 hours, all the efforts and discussions on the CBA deal became null as the players’ association already stated a ‘no more extension’ stance. Cathy Engelbert, who successfully led the league to new highs and also undertook the recent CBA discussion, failed to deliver this time.
But that’s not the only failure league might have to look after; they will also have to take care of the dates for the post-CBA processes, like the expansion draft and free agency signings. As for the CBA condition, Briana Stewart makes intentions clear on the lockout, but for the league, it’s a more critical task now.
Cathy Engelbert’s Clear Stance On Expansion Draft
The WNBA and WNBPA never looked on the same page while discussing the new CBA deal. While the league tried its best with improved numbers and adjustments to the revenue-sharing percentages, the players’ association rejected all the offers.
This not only elongated the CBA discussions but also pushed expansion draft dates and free agency signings. In a recent interview, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert verbally stated there won’t be any expansion drafts until a new CBA is in place.
I interviewed Erin Drake, legal counsel and senior advisor at the WNBPA, today. She shared that WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert verbally stated there won’t be any expansion drafts until a new CBA is in place.
— Khristina Williams (@Khristina) January 9, 2026
The full @icymiwithkw interview will be available soon!
Once the deadline expires, the players’ union and the WNBA will enter a “status quo” period. While the negotiations will continue, the players will now have a chance to call for a strike with their association backing them earlier in December.
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As for the league, the WNBA is already under fire with the expansion franchises and their fees following the WNBPA’s allegations over false calculations.
Cathy Engelbert and WNBA Not Ready To Add Expansion Fees In Revenue Consideration
The WNBA projected $700 million loss due to the players’ demands. But the WNBPA hit back on the false projections and highlighted that the league is not accounting for the hefty expansion fees they received from the upcoming teams in revenue calculations. This has been a major point of contention between the two parties.
The WNBPA argues that the substantial expansion fees should be included in the revenue-sharing projections. The league has recently added teams in Toronto, Portland, Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, with the three most recent teams paying a record $250 million each, totaling $750 million in new fees.
The WNBA argues that expansion fees are not operational revenue. Instead, the league states that this money goes to the existing teams to compensate them for the future revenue they will lose by dividing total league profits among more franchises.
The league and association’s stance is making it difficult for the CBA Conclusion, which is impacting the franchises’ decisions, including the upcoming ones.