Story by
Collective bargaining negotiations between the WNBA and WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) will continue under a 30-day extension of the deadline, according to The Athletic’s Ben Pickman.
The deadline for a new deal was Friday after the union opted out of the 2020 CBA in October 2024. WNBPA president Terri Jackson said the players made that decision to “realign the business and save the league from its own limitations.” Players are focused on a revenue-sharing structure that allows their salaries to grow with the business rather than fixed salaries outlined through the extent of the CBA.
The sides hoped they could reach a deal by the deadline, but acknowledged throughout the summer that there was wiggle room.
“While I hope we make the Oct. 31 deadline, and that is a real deadline from that perspective, we have extended deadlines in the past,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said at her Finals address ahead of Game 1.
Tensions rose publicly over the last month leading into the Finals and in the weeks afterward, all but assuring an extension would be needed for the sides to come to an agreement. It reached a new peak last week when Jackson took aim at NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s comments on rev-share and salaries, alleging the union is “prepared to do business,” while the WNBA responded with “bad math” and a vocabulary that doesn’t include “share.” (Engelbert reports to Silver.)
The league, in a rare move, hit back, calling it “frustrating and counterproductive for the union to be making misrepresentations about our proposals while also assuring the league of engaging in delay.” More than 70 legislators sent a letter to Engelbert and Silver last week urging the league to “bargain in good faith to reach a fair CBA in a timely manner.” The 2025 postseason was the most-watched ever on ESPN networks ahead of the league’s first season of a $2.2 billion media rights deal. It also set league-wide attendance records.
Why isn’t a CBA deal done?
The wedge issue for players is the revenue sharing structure that they feel needs to be agreed upon first before fully discussing down-ballot issues. The union wants a new system that would tie their salaries to the business, paying a percentage of revenue generated that would have a fluctuating salary cap. The league proposed a more lucrative version of the current CBA that sets a fixed salary cap with additional revenue sharing that kicks in if certain targets are met.
There is no clear picture of either side’s proposal, but there are snapshots. The league offered a minimum salary of $300,000, CBA committee co-chair Satou Sabally said during the Finals. The league did not address that number specifically in a request for comment from Yahoo Sports. The maximum in that league proposal is reportedly $850,000.
Those are fourfold increases from the 2025 vet minimum ($78,831) and player maximum ($214,466). The player supermax was $249,244. Players remain steadfast in their push for a revenue-sharing system, but have not disclosed specific details.
WNBPA first vice president Kelsey Plum said in August that the unionis seeking the “same percentage of revenue or a similar percentage of revenue” as the NBA players. The NBA (49-51%), NFL (48%) and NHL (50%) are all at or close to 50-50 splits. The 2020 WNBA CBA outlined a path to a 50-50 split, but targets were not met during the pandemic season.
The influx of cash to be divided up comes predominantly from the media rights deal and expansion fees paid by six teams, totaling $925 million. Merchandise, ticket sales and the like are all up as well.
WNBA history of extended negotiations
The league and union have a history of extending the deadline. They did so in 2019 with a 60-day extension, ultimately announcing an agreement on Jan. 14, 2020. The previous CBA expired on Sept. 30, 2013, a date set with the expectation that the season would be completed.
The postseason continued without a reported extension while they played in a status quo situation. Weeks later, the Minnesota Lynx won their second championship in three years. A new agreement was announced in February.
The closest the league came to a canceled season came after the first CBA expired on Sept. 15, 2002. It was the first CBA for a professional women’s league when it was enacted for the league’s third season. Discussions extended into April and forced the league to postpone its player draft.
The NBA Board of Governors threatened to cancel the season if the WNBA and its players’ association did not agree to a contract by April 18. They signed a deal at 3 a.m. the day of the rescheduled collegiate draft, introducing free agency for the first time and a 17% total increase in salaries over four years.
No previous CBA offseason compares to the work that needs to be completed this time around. Expansion franchises in Portland and Toronto will have an expansion draft, with guidelines that Engelbert has said will be collectively bargained. Golden State’s expansion draft was held in December 2024. There is also the draft lottery, often held in early November, and a bonanza of a free agency period in February since most of the league is free agents.