WNBA fans spot new problem with CBA as league reportedly demands ‘more realistic’ proposal

It is obvious that the WNBA and WNBPA must compromise on the next CBA. “That’s literally what a negotiation is,” one player told ESPN. However, it’s been over a year at the negotiating table, and we’re still looking through the telescope at a deal. Although they understand the need for compromise, each side currently remains stuck to its positions. So much so that the WNBA is ignoring the WNBPA’s latest proposal.

The gap remains in revenue sharing. The players would have proposed 30% of net income, or profit before expenses. On the other hand, the league offers 70% of gross revenues. It was almost a month ago. You’d think the games would have improved to get this number somewhere in the middle. Unfortunately, they are exactly where they were at the time, since the WNBA didn’t even bother to send out their response.

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“The Women’s National Basketball Players Association is still waiting for an official response from the league since sending it a proposal a month ago,” ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou reported. “The league believes the proposal didn’t deserve a response because it wasn’t that different from previous ones the union submitted — and instead, sources told ESPN, it’s waiting for players to submit what it would consider a more “realistic” proposal.

With about three months until the May 8 announcement date for 2026, the mood around the 2026 season is growing increasingly gloomy. The WNBPA has already held a vote to grant its leaders the power to call a strike if necessary. Fans feel helpless over these ongoing negotiations and lack of updates, as many have turned to criticism of the WNBPA.

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“I’m asking for way too much,” one fan wrote. “They shot themselves in the foot lol,” said another. You wouldn’t expect a comment like that just a few months ago. You could have, but those fans would have been a minority. Slowly but surely, fatigue caught up. Some fans no longer sympathize with the WNBPA. Because, according to them, it is the WNBPA which is now blocking the negotiations. The league offered players record salaries of more than $1 million, including revenue sharing. That should be enough, according to some fans. Additionally, the WNBA reportedly inferred that the WNBPA’s proposal could result in losses of $700 million.

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Rebecca Lobo has already warned players of this emerging feeling. “As these negotiations progress, it feels like some of (the fan support) is diminishing,” she said. “And I think part of that comes from the language and the verbiage and those kinds of things that we’ve heard from the players’ association.” The WNBPA leadership, which includes Nneka Ogwumike and Napheesa Collier, has held firm, but fans are calling for their replacements.