NBA legend Charles Barkley gave some advice to WNBA players during this week’s episode of “The Steam Room.”
The WNBA and WNBA Players Association have not yet agreed on a collective bargaining agreement for the 2026 season. Although Barkley would like to see players get what they ask for in negotiations, he ultimately believes the league and its owners are in complete control.
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“The idea that workers are going to one day dominate the billionaires and multi-millionaires, that’s never going to happen in any capacity,” he added. ” Barkley said, via Awful Announcing.
Barkley then warned WNBA players to avoid a lockout at all costs.
“Ladies, I want you all to get paid and I wish you the best. But you all need to be very careful. Walk into this room and say, ‘Hey, let’s make the best deal.’ You don’t want a strike, you don’t want a lockout. I’ve been watching all these people on TV for months… you can get paid whatever you can. You might not get paid what you’re worth. But you can get paid what you can get. »
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June 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, United States; NBA TV analyst Charles Barkley speaks on set before Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images)
What’s the latest news on the WNBA CBA?
It was previously reported that a CBA would need to be agreed upon by March 10 for the WNBA to begin the 2026 season on time.
According to Front Office Sportsthe WNBA and WNBPA exchanged proposals over the weekend. Apparently the league’s offer isn’t making players optimistic about a deal.
The WNBA’s previous offer would give teams a salary cap of $5.75 million, but less than 15% of gross revenue. Players initially aimed for 40% of gross revenue.
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Technically, the WNBA season is scheduled to begin on May 8. At the moment, we don’t even know if there will be a season.
This story was originally published by The yarn on March 10, 2026, where he first appeared in the WNBA section. Add The Spun as Favorite source by clicking here.
