The CBA negotiations between the WNBA and WNBPA proceed to accentuate as the present settlement’s Oct. 31 deadline rapidly approaches.
Since Napheesa Collier referred to as out WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Sept. 30, stress amongst Engelbert, gamers, and house owners has continued to develop. To not point out, followers in Phoenix booed the Commissioner through the Las Vegas Aces’ Finals trophy presentation on Oct. 10.
On Tuesday, Ben Pickman of The Athletic reported that the WNBA and WNBPA are “extraordinarily unlikely” to succeed in an settlement on a brand new CBA.
NEWS: The WNBA and the WNBPA are extraordinarily unlikely to succeed in a brand new CBA by Friday’s deadline, in keeping with the gamers’ union authorized counsel.
“In a dance, it takes two to tango. And it has been troublesome to discover a beat.”
Extra from @benpickman ⤵️https://t.co/cgQsv5yZSQ
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 28, 2025
WNBPA senior advisor and authorized counsel Erin D. Drake appeared on The Athletic’s “No Offseason” podcast, launched on Tuesday, and said that no deal will likely be accomplished by Friday.
“We have now labored arduous to have the ability to say on Friday, we did it. Sadly, that’s not going to occur,” Drake mentioned. “In a dance, it takes two to tango. And it has been troublesome to discover a beat, to discover a rhythm and to seek out the identical sense of urgency [from the league], simply to be frank, to get this finished.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Faces Backlash After CBA Feedback
In consequence, WNBA gamers and WNBPA criticized Silver’s feedback, saying they deserve larger, equitable pay that features a honest and sufficient income share.
One week in the past, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sparked debate after addressing the WNBA labor talks on NBC’s “At the moment Present.”
“I feel ‘share isn’t the precise method to take a look at it, Silver commented.
All through the 2025 season, gamers demanded higher pay and rejected the league’s first proposal to the union. Phoenix Mercury ahead Satou Sabally has been vocal in regards to the WNBA’s points, corresponding to scheduling and participant compensation.
A number of gamers throughout the league journey abroad through the offseason for larger salaries. The excellent news is that they’ve the choice to remain in the USA and play in leagues like Unmatched and Athletes Limitless.
“ they understand it’s unhealthy when one of the best they are saying they’ll do is extra of the identical: a hard and fast wage system and a separate revenue-sharing plan that solely features a piece of a bit of the pie, and pays themselves (the league) again first,” WNBPA Government Director Terri Carmichael Jackson mentioned in a press release on Wednesday to The Athletic.
What’s Subsequent: An Extension or a Work Stoppage?
Only a few hours later, Alexa Philippou of ESPN reported that the WNBA supplied the WNBPA a 30-day extension to proceed CBA negotiations and finalize a brand new deal.
Moreover, the gamers would possibly think about an extension “below the precise circumstances,” however a supply says they imagine “these circumstances don’t but exist.”
We have now been negotiating with the Gamers Affiliation in good religion and with urgency for a number of months with the aim of finalizing a brand new collective bargaining settlement as rapidly as potential,” a WNBA spokesperson mentioned, by way of ESPN. “All through this course of, we’ve got been clear that our high precedence is reaching a brand new collective bargaining settlement that addresses gamers’ ask for important will increase in pay, advantages, and enhancements to their expertise, whereas guaranteeing the long-term development and success of the league and its groups.
“We urge the Gamers Affiliation to spend much less time disseminating public misinformation and extra time becoming a member of us in constructive engagement throughout the desk.”
The newest CBA negotiations occurred in January 2020, following a 60-day extension granted through the 2019 negotiations.
Because the Oct. 31 deadline for the WNBA and the WNBPA to succeed in a brand new CBA approaches, a number of questions stay unanswered. Most gamers will likely be unrestricted free brokers within the upcoming free company interval, and the enlargement drafts for each the Portland Hearth and Toronto Tempo are nonetheless to be decided.
How A piece Stoppage Would Have an effect on the WNBA
There are each execs and cons to the brand new CBA negotiations, as they might be transformative for the league. The WNBA has grown noticeably over the previous few years, and that momentum is prone to proceed, particularly following the Caitlin Clark impact.
Whereas Clark has moved the needle, the WNBA additionally has present and future stars like Paige Bueckers, JuJu Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo, Lauren Betts, Azzi Fudd, and Flau’Jae Johnson. With the league experiencing record-breaking development in viewership, attendance, and merchandise, a piece stoppage may halt that momentum and sluggish progress. The CBA negotiations come shortly after the league signed a $2.2 billion media rights deal.
A supply mentioned the gamers could also be prepared to contemplate an extension “below the precise circumstances,” however they really feel “these circumstances don’t but exist.” https://t.co/wghMS7t6kU
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) October 28, 2025
Sure, the league has to ensure that development is sustainable from a enterprise perspective; nevertheless, the gamers are demanding a good income share and a much bigger piece of the pie.
One may argue {that a} labor strike would possibly damage the league greater than the gamers. Set to tip off in January, Unmatched affords gamers the chance to remain stateside through the offseason whereas incomes salaries north of $200,000. Whereas that advantages present gamers, Napheesa Collier informed Glamour that surrendering would hinder the expansion of ladies’s sports activities.
“If we give in, we’re not solely doing a disservice to us, we’re doing a disservice to the place we’ve got gotten in girls’s sports activities,” Collier informed Glamour Journal. “We actually don’t have any selection however to face sturdy once more, not only for the current, however for the way forward for our league too.”
*Article Co-Written by Aya Abdeen and Sara Jane Gamelli*
