“Pay us what you owe us.” That rallying cry has echoed through WNBA halls for far too long. Players have demanded fair compensation repeatedly, yet their calls were met mostly with delays. But not anymore.

As of November 30, 2025, the WNBPA (players’ union) and the WNBA face a crucial moment. Sure, the previous collective bargaining agreement expired at the end of October. Then the league offered a 30-day extension, which the union accepted, but with one condition: they could end it with just 48 hours’ notice. But…that countdown is over now.

Because tonight, that extension officially ends. Reports show that “…significant gaps remain, especially regarding the league’s salary system going forward.” Both sides are back at the table, but they are far apart. But what are the players really asking for?

The WNBPA wants revenue sharing. Instead of fixed salaries, they want their pay to grow as the league grows. Right now, players receive less than 10% of league revenue, while most men’s leagues give players about half. The union says that it needs to change. However, earlier this month, the league offered: minimum salaries over $220,000, average salaries above $460,000, and potential top salaries over $1.1 million.

On paper, it looks huge, but the numbers include revenue-sharing bonuses that have never actually been paid. The details matter more than the headlines. And of course, the union didn’t accept it. Led by Nneka Ogwumike, players argue that the system still ties salaries to fixed caps rather than actual revenue. Without a real revenue-sharing system, they say, salaries remain artificially low, no matter how big the numbers look. The fight is about fairness, not just money.

The league previously said in a statement that it has proposed “significant guaranteed salary cap increases and substantial uncapped revenue sharing that enables player salaries to grow as the league’s business grows.” But the union calls it a “lipstick on a pig,” saying the plan undervalues the players and doesn’t change the fundamental system.

Now, the clock is ticking. With the 30-day extension over, what happens if the WNBA and the players don’t reach a new agreement?

This is a developing story…