The stalemate in the WNBA’s CBA negotiations has reached a new tipping point. So, are we finally moving forward, or is the deadlock only getting deeper? Well… the answer hasn’t really changed. We’re still stuck. And this time, patience around the situation is starting to run pretty thin.

The players’ union submitted its latest proposal a few days ago, with revised provisions. The league was quick to react, calling the WNBPA’s proposal “unrealistic.” And now, late Friday night, Cathy Engelbert & Co. sent back their version of the proposal, causing an uproar in the community.

According to Front Office Sports, the league’s latest provision doesn’t include any substantial changes to player revenue sharing or the salary cap, which the WNBPA is most eager to achieve.

In its proposal, the union demanded a salary cap below $9.5M and 25% revenue sharing from the league’s total revenue. However, as of the league’s proposal, the league has hit back with their proposal featuring $5.65M and around 15% of the total revenue.

Thereby, a middle path between these two proposals is still telescopic.

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On the housing front, though, there has been some movement. The WNBPA called for teams to continue providing housing during the early years of a new CBA, with that obligation phased out later for players earning near the maximum salary.

The league’s offer does include concessions on that issue. It proposed guaranteed team housing for the 2026 season, followed by housing limited to players on minimum contracts or those with no years of service over the next two years. After 2028, the housing benefit for full-time roster players would expire.

And as the negotiations continue, players have found dissent from a certain section of the fans who have called out the WNBPA, led by the likes of Napheesa Collier, Nneka Ogwumike, and Breanna Stewart, for their exaggerated demands.

Fans Point to Reasons Behind WNBA’s Unchanged CBA Offer

“The WNBA players deserve 100% of league profits. That comes to a total of $0.00,” a fan wrote.

“I get where the league is coming from, given its attendance and viewership are driven primarily by a single player/team,” commented another.

The comments are statistically precise, though. According to reports, the WNBA has never been a profit-making league. A statement by NBA commissioner Adam Silver suggests that the league has lost approximately $10M each year since its inception in 1996. Moreover, the league reportedly lost around $50M in 2024.

Thus, an enhanced revenue-sharing clause that players are requesting might undermine the league’s finances. On top of that, the league’s situation has improved, with better ticket and merchandise sales in recent years, especially because of young stars like Caitlin Clark. Thereby, several fans feel that the league’s perception is precise in itself, considering that not many players can drive that level of business.

“The wnba owners view it as big risk that the wnba only has 1 good revenue generating player and 1 player who draws big ratings. They’re not going to lock themselves into a long term deal until others can prove market value, multiple teams get 50-75% of their gate from 2 CC games,” wrote another.

“Why should it it was a good offer if these women are too greedy to accept it shut the league down .there all trying to take more than they deserve because Caitlin Clark pumped the number up 51% of viewership went when she was injured the product is awful and had never made profit,” remarked another.

In her rookie year in 2024, CC alone accounted for more than 26% of the league’s financial activity. She didn’t just stop there. Her team, the Indiana Fever, faced the Seattle Storm on August 18, attracting around 2.23 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched games on ABC.

On top of that, Indiana Fever’s total home attendance in the 2024 season was around 340,715, the most for any franchise. Additionally, when Clark was absent from most of the games last year due to injury, the WNBA’s viewership suffered 53% decline. It quietly establishes the relationship of how CC has driven the league in recent years.

Though let’s not forget, several other notable players, including Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and more, have also played a part in the growth.

And while elements like losses and player-driven success are undeniable, another side of the story comes into play: the league itself is booming, with billionaires paying nine-figure fees just to join. And players are fully aware of it.

It’s important to note that none of the players are asking to be paid like their NBA counterparts. The real sticking point is the revenue.  According to the WNBA’s projections, players would still receive less than 15% of gross revenue, and the proposed 2026 salary cap remains at $5.65 million. That leaves roughly a 12.5% gap in revenue share and a $3.85 million difference in salary caps between the league and the players.

Simply put, part of the difference in perspective comes down to timing: the players are thinking about how these numbers will play out over the next several years, while some focus on the immediate picture. All of this, however, is creating a large section of anxiety and uncertainty around the upcoming WNBA season. 

“WNBA Lockout is all but assured,” chimed in another.

With a long delay in talks, the uncertainty around a strike is also emerging. As of now, both parties have the power to call for a strike, but so far, both the WNBA and the WNBPA have chosen a diplomatic route, because they know a lockout could stall the surge the league has been experiencing.

“Having the strike on the table is something that we’re very much aware of, but there are so many more conversations that have to happen,” WNBPA President Ogwumike said.

The league is slated to start in May. However, with little progress in the WNBA’s CBA talks, a delay seems inevitable as each day passes. All we can hope for is that a deal gets done in time, with both sides finding common ground, and that our stars walk away with the pay and recognition they genuinely deserve.