The WNBA Players Association announced Thursday that it has authorized its executive committee to call a strike “if necessary” as the union continues collective bargaining with the WNBA, marking the latest development in a tense saga of labor negotiations between the union and the league.
As the WNBPA statement points out, “the players’ vote is neither a call for an immediate strike nor an intention to continue a strike. Rather, it is a categorical affirmation of the players’ confidence in their leadership and their unwavering solidarity against ongoing efforts to divide, conquer and undervalue them.”
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The union said 93 percent of players participated in the vote, and 98 percent of participants voted “yes.”
League officials expected the union’s decision to authorize its executive committee to call a strike, sources briefed on the discussions said.
After agreeing to a second extension of the CBA until January 9, 2026, the union and the WNBA remain far apart in their negotiations, according to recent player statements. The sticking point between the two sides is the league’s business model and how players will participate in sharing the company’s revenue. Many other issues are also at play, including benefits for current and retired players, the length of the WNBA schedule, roster size and the base designation — the WNBA equivalent of the NFL’s franchise tag.
The terms of the extension allow either party to terminate it with 48 hours’ notice. In addition to dismissal, this vote gives the WNBPA executive committee the ability to suspend and suspend WNBA services, even though players have stressed the importance of having a full season in 2026.
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“The players’ decision is an inevitable response to the state of negotiations with the WNBA and its teams,” the union said in its statement Thursday.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was asked about ABC negotiations during a press conference before the NBA Cup championship game and acknowledged the need for both sides to compromise, even as they both seek to significantly increase player compensation.
The WNBA has never missed games due to a strike or work stoppage in its nearly 30-year history. However, the closest the league came to missing games was in April 2003, when then-NBA commissioner David Stern threatened to cancel the next WNBA season about a month before its start date if a deal was not reached by then. A new collective agreement was finally concluded.
This article was originally published in Athletics.
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