The standoff hasn’t moved. And everyone involved knows why. The WNBA and the players’ union remain locked in negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement, with the league presenting its latest proposal and the WNBPA yet to respond. As pressure builds toward the season timeline, the debate has centered on revenue sharing, expectations, and leverage.

During NBA All-Star Weekend, two NBA player-leaders stepped directly into that conversation. Chris Paul and Jaylen Brown were asked what advice they had for WNBA players navigating the dispute. Their answers didn’t address technical clauses or salary formulas. Instead, they addressed the power behind them.

“My biggest advice would be unity. As a committee, as players, it’s so many different players who have so many different views. But any time you can find a way to be together, you’re a lot stronger together. And I think that’s what we learned over the years,” said recently retired CP3, who also served as president of the National Basketball Players Association from 2013 to 2021.

Meanwhile, Brown simply said, “Advice…you know, do your due diligence, trust your instincts, and get what you deserve.”

Those responses framed the negotiation less as a legal battle and more as a collective one. That is the part usually implied in bargaining talks but rarely said directly.

The disagreement is not about whether revenue will be shared. It is about how it is calculated. The WNBPA has maintained its demand for a percentage of gross revenue. Meanwhile, the league has continued offering a larger share of net revenue. Because of that difference, the latest proposal has produced mixed reactions among players rather than a unified stance.

Housing concessions were included in the league’s offer, addressing one of the players’ major concerns. However, that did not resolve the primary financial dispute. As a result, discussions have stalled deep into the offseason.

Several players have already signaled preparation for a lockout scenario or potential strike authorization. That possibility increases pressure on the union to remain aligned internally, which directly echoes Paul’s emphasis on unity.

At the same time, Brown’s directive about compensation speaks to the other side of the equation. Negotiations depend not only on agreement but on how far players are willing to hold their position.

The latest Breanna Stewart announcement sparks tension regarding CBA negotiations

While negotiations continue, WNBPA vice president Breanna Stewart announced she will play for Fenerbahce in April alongside Emma Meesseman and Gabby Williams in the EuroLeague championship run.

The tournament ends in April, leaving time before WNBA training camps begin. Still, the timing matters because no official union response has followed the latest proposal beyond a Valentine’s Day social media post.

Commissioner Adam Silver has already urged both sides to reach an agreement quickly, calling the situation close to the “11th hour.” Meanwhile, rumors of a delayed season or lockout continue to circulate around the talks.

Stewart sits at the center of both developments. As a union leader, she is part of the negotiations. As a player, she is continuing her offseason schedule overseas.

Because of that overlap, the situation reinforces the message delivered by Paul and Brown. Collective bargaining ultimately depends on two things at once. Internal unity and willingness to push for value.

The negotiations now move toward a response from the players’ union. Whether compromise comes quickly or pressure escalates will depend on how firmly players align behind those two principles.