WNBA players and owners are still negotiating the terms of what both sides expect to be a historic collective bargaining agreement Tuesday. And with less than two months until the scheduled start of the WNBA season, the pace of proposals is picking up on both sides: Players submitted their most recent proposal Friday and owners responded Saturday night.
These are the biggest unresolved questions heading into a crucial period of negotiations.
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What is the deadline for a new CBA to avoid delaying the 2026 season?
It depends who you ask. WNBA owners have proposed a Tuesday deadline to reach a new CBA without affecting the regular season. The players dispute that, saying their only deadline is “when a lot of things are on the table,” according to a person familiar with the matter.
Without a collective agreement, what could happen?
Several events must take place to allow play in 2026, including expansion drafts for new Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo franchises, free agency for existing WNBA players, and of course the annual rookie draft on April 13. Beyond these developments, teams are expected to hold training camps with their new squads.
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What are the main sticking points?
A major debate concerns the proposed revenue sharing between owners and players, which would be a first for the WNBA. Both sides have so far agreed that revenue sharing – common in many men’s professional leagues – should take place, but they have not yet reached an agreement on distribution. WNBA owners have proposed a system that would allow players to receive about 70 percent of “net revenue” or revenue after operational costs. A recent survey of WNBA players found that 84 percent of the union was unwilling to accept this offer from the owners, which the AP calculated represents “less than 15 percent of gross revenue” for the teams and the league.
The debate is as much numerical as it is philosophical. Owners are concerned about the WNBA’s continued financial growth, while players are wary of proposals closer to profit sharing than revenue sharing, according to people familiar with the negotiations.
Are there any other problems?
Besides salaries, existing player benefits, such as league-subsidized housing, have fueled disagreements. Natasha Cloud, New York Liberty guard highlighted this problem earlier this month as essential for the middle class of W players. Even with a proposed $200,000 wage increase, “we’re not making enough to take housing off the table,” Cloud said.
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Initially, WNBA owners proposed eliminating housing coverage, given higher salaries. In recent proposals, the league proposed retaining player housing during the first year of the new CBA and phasing it out based on the player’s contractual status, the sources close to it said. For example, development players and starters would continue to receive some housing benefits beyond the first year, while those on super max contracts would phase out by 2028, one of the people said.
The league schedule is also up for debate, with the possibility of expanding the W’s schedule footprint to include additional games.
What did the players say?
A lot. In December, players voted to authorize the union to call a strike, if necessary. Lately, a number of A-list stars have expressed differing opinions on the negotiation process. Kelsey Plum and Breanna Stewart, both members of the WNBPA executive committee, told reporters during a photoshoot for Unrivaled last week that they consider the WNBA owners’ revenue-sharing proposal “a win.” Shortly afterward, they sent a letter to union leaders expressing “serious concerns” about the administration’s handling of negotiations. according to ESPN. The union’s executive committee released a statement Wednesday signed by Plum, Stewart and other player executives that said: “Despite our differences and difficult times, we must make it clear that we are focused, that we are resolved and that we are together.”
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Does this mean I won’t be able to watch elite women’s basketball?
On the contrary. Caitlin Clark is expected to make her senior debut for the U.S. women’s basketball team at the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico on Wednesday. This will be Clark’s first game in eight months after missing much of the 2025 season with a groin injury. She will be joined by Plum, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese, among others.
TNT Sports reached a broadcast deal with FIBA last week for rights to broadcast international basketball in the United States, highlighting continued interest in women’s and men’s World Cup hoops and the pressure on W owners and players to reach an agreement.
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