The CBA deadlock continues as we head into the middle of February. Normally, by this time, free agency begins to take shape, and contracts start getting announced by teams. However, the CBA negotiations have taken center stage, with Unrivaled Basketball and the AU Pro Basketball league currently providing women’s basketball action for the fans.

The WNBA players have held out for a long time, but doubts are starting to creep in about whether the 2026 season will happen and whether it will be a curtailed season because of the delays. ESPN reporter Katie Barnes attended the Athletes United Pro Basketball league in Nashville and discussed growing concerns about the lack of a CBA.

26 of the 40 participants in the AU Pro Basketball league were playing in the WNBA last season, and Barnes collected honest thoughts from them while maintaining their anonymity. The players highlighted that while they were confident of a 2026 season, the question of whether it would be a full season was not as certain.

Barnes also asked what their primary concerns were within the CBA. The players cited housing and retirement benefits as the two main contentious points for them. The latest WNBA proposal regarding the CBA does include housing concessions for WNBA stars. Meanwhile, the players’ union is focusing on terms like revenue sharing and the salary cap.

The WNBA did not budge from its previous terms regarding revenue sharing and salary cap, which is also the case with the players’ union. The WNBPA is also rumored to be planning a strike to bring more attention to the issue during the NBA All-Star weekend.

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A few players also highlighted the concern that the entire disagreement could lead to a lockout, which could seriously affect the players who do not have other commercial avenues. Some even pointed out that while they felt well represented by the players’ union, it was also a case of the biggest stars pushing for the most beneficial terms, whereas the other players would be more affected in case it did not work out.

Overall, it looks like there are a few players who are starting to feel like their own players’ union’s demands are a little too much for the league to accept, since it’s a giant leap from the previous CBA proposal. The WNBA has been prepared to provide 60% of the net revenue instead of the 30% of the gross revenue that the players’ union is demanding, with the governing body’s argument that a portion of net revenue ensures financial stability for the league.

However, there still remains some optimism.

WNBPA vice president Breanna Stewart admits to positive CBA movement

The WNBPA had been waiting for over a month for a response from the WNBA after submitting its suggestions on the CBA terms. The latest meeting provided no resolution. But the governing body finally submitted a revised proposal to the players, including new things like housing concessions for the players.

While several members of the players’ union have come out and expressed their disappointment at the proposal, providing no updated terms of revenue sharing and salary cap, Breanna Stewart has chosen to look at the positive side of the entire proposal.

Stewart has recognized that the proposal has included improved terms for the players, stating that she is more hopeful of a resolution after seeing the league and the owners show they are starting to listen to the players’ needs and advice.

Further, she also highlighted that since they are looking to operate in a revenue sharing model regardless of the exact terms, a curtailed season would also reflect in the overall financial package since missing games will end up in reduced revenue generation.

Breanna Stewart is trying to be as involved as she can and hopes that the players and the governing body can come to a mutually beneficial CBA resolution.