Ever since the WNBPA opted out of the current CBA, a new round of negotiations with the WNBA was expected, but few predicted it would drag on this long with the deadline just days away. If the All-Star weekend wasn’t enough, tensions rose after Napheesa Collier’s fiery exit interview, which reignited support for the players. The momentum grew even more when Adam Silver added fuel to the fire, saying it wasn’t the right time to pursue a revenue-share model! But now, a new update hints at backdoor work in progress.

According to the report, throughout the WNBA finals, there were meetings and conversations happening between the WNBA officials and the WNBPA’s representatives. There have been plenty of face-to-face meetings as well, and even players such as Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, and Kelsey Plum have attended them. However, despite these meetings, the problem still remains that the league is not willing to incorporate a revenue-based model for the players’ salaries.

The revenue-share model has been the sticking point throughout the CBA negotiations. Currently, WNBA players receive just 9% of league revenue, far below the NBA’s 50%. After Adam Silver’s comments discouraging the push for a similar model, it looked like talks had stalled. However, reports indicate both sides met again last Thursday, yet the same disagreements remain. Safe to say, the conversation over fair pay is far from over.

Responding to Adam Silver’s comments, WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson slammed the WNBA and Adam Silver for their lack of willingness to make a deal. In a statement, she said, “We’ve come to the table prepared to do business. They’ve responded with bad math and are hoping everyone doesn’t understand what ‘uncapped’ actually means. Adam Silver said it himself on behalf of the WNBA. ‘Share isn’t the word.’ It’s not in their vocabulary.”

Strong statements from both sides are a reflection of just how far apart the WNBA and its players are even today. With just over a week before the current CBA expires, a breakthrough at this point in all likelihood seems unlikely. While next season May feel far off, the league must prepare for two new teams joining, which requires a signed CBA to hold the expansion draft. With talks stalled and deadlines looming, the question on everyone’s mind is whether the WNBA could face its first-ever lockout.

Will there be a WNBA lockout before the 2026 season?

Adam Silver’s comments about the CBA negotiations have added another layer of uncertainty about a new deal. As things stand, a lockout certainly looks like a big possibility. But in the long run, is there any benefit to delaying the season? According to a recent ESPN report, a lockdown is going to cost both the league and the players heavily.

During the last couple of years, the WNBA has built a strong momentum. This momentum has propelled the WNBA to the fastest-growing league in the U.S.A.! (Thanks to Caitlin Clark and the likes of Angel Reese and Paige Buecker)! So, any hiccups in this progress can jeopardize everything good that has happened in the last couple of years.

A source who chose to be anonymous told ESPN, “I don’t know exactly how far people are off. But generally, when I’ve seen these things, usually as it comes closer to crunch time, everybody kind of moves a little bit closer together, and we can get to a deal that’s reasonable enough.” While it remains to be seen if the two parties actually get closer to making the deal or not, a simple and short-term solution can be to allow for an extension. 

This would follow the same pattern as the last CBA in 2020. As the league and the WNBPA were struggling to make the deal by the deadline, both parties mutually agreed to a 60-day extension. If such a scenario were to happen, it could point to a deal being close, as the only reason to extend is if both parties feel like there is a possibility of the deal. Both would want to avoid the worst-case scenario and avoid a lockdown, as there is nothing to be gained for either if there is no league next season.