Amid the fun and festivities and the glitz and glamor of the WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, there appears to be a simmering dispute between the players and the league over crafting a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) opted out of the CBA in October to negotiate a new labor deal with the league by the end of the current season. The players felt that they have enough leverage to demand for better working conditions, including higher salaries. They knew they have been instrumental in the continued ascent of the WNBA.
WNBA And WNBPA Discuss CBA In Historic Meeting
On Thursday, the WNBA and the WNBPA sat down to continue the stalled discussions about the CBA. The deadline for the new labor contract is set on October 31. According to a statement by the players’ union, it “marked the largest in-person player turnout in union history during CBA negotiations.”
The significant attendance, however, didn’t lead to a favorable response from the league.
“The WNBA’s response to our proposals fails to address the priorities we’ve voiced from the day we opted out: A transformational CBA that delivers our rightful share of the business that we’ve built, improves working conditions, and ensures the success we create lifts both today’s players and the generations that follow,” read the statement, as shared by ESPN reporter Kendra Andrews.
Over 40 players attended today’s CBA meeting, which lasted a couple of hours.
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) July 17, 2025
In a statement, the WNBPA says “the WNBA's response to our proposals fails to address the priorities we've voiced…we will not stop until we achieve the transformational CBA this moment demands.” pic.twitter.com/OPRkoWY60F
The WNBPA stressed that the WNBA has enjoyed exponential success, implying that it is largely due to the players. Popular stars like Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, and New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, just to name a few, have made the league a profitable brand.
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“Short-changing the working women who make this business possible stalls growth. Then only thing more unsustainable than the current system is pretending it can go on forever,” the statement continued.
“It’s not complicated.”
However, the WNBA has yet to issue a comment, as of writing and we would wait to see how things would turn out to be. With all of this back and forth, players are still far from at peace with their demands.
WNBA Players Ready For Work Stoppage
Numerous players have already voiced out their concerns about the CBA. They have also said they are willing to go on strike if their demands are not met. Obviously, it would put next season in jeopardy.
“WNBA players are ‘bracing’ for a work stoppage if the pace of talks doesn’t ramp up exponentially in the near future,” a report from the New York Post read.
Fans can only hope that there will be no lockout and that the WNBA and the WNBPA find a compromise as the discussions continue during the All-Star Weekend.
Also Read: Breanna Stewart Lashes Out At WNBA For Ignoring Players’ Plea In CBA Negotiation