WNBA and Players Union Face Tight Deadline in CBA Negotiations
Extension Proposal Amid Rising Tensions
With the October 31 deadline fast approaching, the WNBA has proposed a 30-day extension to the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) to continue negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement, multiple sources confirmed to Front Office Sports.
The proposal follows a week of heated exchanges between league officials and the union. According to one source close to the players’ stance, there is potential for flexibility — but not yet under the current terms.
“Those circumstances do not yet exist,” the source told FOS.
Historical Context and Possible Timeline
This situation mirrors 2019, when both sides agreed to a 60-day extension that ultimately produced a new CBA in time for free agency. A similar outcome this year would position the WNBA to execute its expansion draft for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire in December, following last year’s successful addition of the Golden State Valkyries.
If no extension is agreed upon, both parties may still negotiate without a deal in place. However, such a move could risk a work stoppage, either through an owner-initiated lockout or a player-led strike.
League and Union Positions
The league’s proposal comes after WNBPA senior adviser and legal counsel Erin D. Drake stated on The Athletic’s podcast No Offseason that no agreement would be reached by Friday, citing a lack of urgency from the WNBA.
In response, a league spokesperson told FOS that an offer was made on October 1 and that the players’ association responded earlier this week.
Salary and Revenue-Sharing Details
Sources say the WNBA’s latest offer includes a supermax salary near $850,000 and a veteran minimum around $300,000. The proposed revenue-sharing model would remain similar to the current structure, activated only when certain cumulative benchmarks are achieved. Notably, the shared revenue would stem solely from league office income and not team-specific revenue.
Players Push for Fairer Compensation
WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson criticized the league’s “fixed salary system,” explaining that it leaves players with only “a piece of a piece of the pie.”
As negotiations continue, the next few weeks could shape the financial and structural future of women’s professional basketball, determining whether cooperation or confrontation defines the WNBA’s next chapter.
