The January 9 deadline is approaching and WNBA players are still waiting for answers. As the WNBA and its players find themselves engaged in a silent standoff over a new CBA, one Indiana Fever star has broken the silence with a message that could ignite a firestorm.
According to Front Office Sports, labor negotiations have stalled because the league has not said anything about the players’ proposal in nearly two weeks.
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Many people around the league could relate to the Fever player’s message, which had a tone of disappointment. Brianna Turner expressed her opinion on X.
“I know I’ve had my days of ‘everyone voted to see change,’ but in reality I feel like there isn’t much voting to fix a system rooted in corruption, greed, and deceit. The statement came as players waited to hear whether their push to share revenue would gain traction before the deadline.
Brianna Turner’s feelings show the main disagreement that ends the negotiations. The WNBPA wants 30% of gross revenue and a salary cap of around $10.5 million. The league, on the other hand, wants more than 50% of net revenue after expenses. The WNBA’s offer would immediately increase average salaries from about $120,000 to $530,000 and maximum salaries from $249,244 to $1.3 million. However, stakeholders are still unsure how revenue is defined and whether expenses will be clearly displayed.
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On Unrivaled on Monday, Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx star player and WNBPA vice president, I saved this.
Collier said, “You’ve heard a lot of discussion that what we’re asking for is not sustainable for the business,” Collier said. “Being on Unrivaled’s side, I know what it takes to run a sustainable business. If they can’t find a model that can do it, they need to put people in place who can.”
This would be the worst time for a possible strike. Portland and Toronto will join the league as new teams in 2026, bringing the total number of teams to 15. The WNBA’s momentum could be hurt by any work stoppage, as the season is set to begin in May.
WNBA and players union face Friday deadline with no extension proposed
That momentum is now on hold as both sides rush toward Friday without a safety net. As of Thursday morning, neither the WNBA nor the Players Association had suggested pushing back the deadline again. This could mean that this is the real breaking point. Two weeks ago, the union sent its proposal, but it still hasn’t received a counteroffer, so everyone is stuck.
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If there is no agreement by Friday, the league could keep things as is, which would allow players to continue using team facilities and medical benefits. WNBPA Vice President Breanna Stewart refused to extend the deadline for the ABC. But the most dramatic choice remains available. In mid-December, 93% of players voted, and 98% of them voted yes. The league could technically cut the players, but sources say that is unlikely.
Additionally, the WNBA league wants players to pay for their own housing, just like most other sports leagues. But the union demands that the league continue to fund player housing.
The disagreement goes beyond salaries to include season length, quality of facilities and retirement benefits. The WNBA has never lost a game due to labor action in nearly 30 years, which makes this moment special.
The position Indiana Fever Star drops cryptic message hours before ABC’s latest deadline appeared first on EssentiallySport.
