A lockout is coming for the WNBA and the players’ union. Negotiations have been going on for months without any progress. Players sent in their counterproposal on Tuesday. The league said it was “unrealistic” in public 24 hours later and tabled a counterproposal.

Instead of figuring it out in private, both sides have chosen to go public. In 80 days, training camp will start. Free agency still has to happen. No one is willing to give in. If they don’t reach an agreement soon, the 2026 season is in big trouble.

ESPN’s Alexa Philippou says that the back-and-forth has escalated. “The WNBPA received a new proposal from the WNBA on Friday, a source confirmed to ESPN ( @TheAthletic first). That came three days after the union sent a counterproposal to the league that it quickly struck down publicly.”

The sequence shows the league’s plan to turn down the players’ offer in public within hours, then make a new offer to start negotiations again on the league’s terms. This strategic approach puts more weight on public messaging to gain negotiating power than on real conversation between the parties.

Within 24 hours of the players’ submission, the league publicly fired them. The WNBPA’s counteroffer asked for an average of 27.5 percent of gross revenue over the life of the agreement, down from their original demand of 31 percent, starting at 28 percent in 2026. A salary cap of $9.5 million was a big step toward the league’s proposal of $5.65 million. There were also concessions for housing. The league’s refusal to accept these compromises and instead publicly attacking the proposal showed that it didn’t want to see players move toward a middle ground.

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The WNBA’s public statement made it clear that they were not going to change their opinions. “The Players Association’s latest proposal remains unrealistic and would cause hundreds of millions of dollars of losses for our teams,” the league spokesperson declared. “We still need to complete two drafts and free agency before the start of training camp, and we are running out of time. We believe the WNBA’s proposal would result in a huge win for current players and generations to come.”

The numbers show why they won’t ever agree. The league gives 70% of net revenue, which is about 15% of gross revenue. Players want 27.5% of gross revenue, which is almost twice what they get now. The league hasn’t said what the max salary is, but players want $2 million. The salary cap was $1.5 million in 2025, so both offers are for more money. But they don’t agree on anything important. The league’s quick rejection and immediate counteroffer show that they are no longer negotiating. They’re getting ready for a legal battle.

Dawn Staley breaks down what the WNBA lockout really means

Dawn Staley, the coach of South Carolina, is the only one who stands out in the public fight between the WNBA and the league. As a player and a coach, she’s been through labor fights. She’s not making things sound better than they are. Staley knows what he has to lose. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers are making the WNBA great. The ratings are going up. The arenas are full. But the CBA has been stuck for 16 months. Staley’s willingness to talk directly shows how important this moment is to everyone.

Staley put a positive spin on the fight. Staley said during a recent media availability, “I think it’s good, actually. Negotiating is hard, but it’s good. Anybody willing to bet on self in this space is always a good thing.”

Staley admitted that things were hard, but stayed hopeful. “They’re negotiating. There’s always going to be an emotional attachment, and then there are facts. Once we get down to the facts, I do think it’s going to get done.”

The clock is ticking. The 2026 season starts on May 8. The college draft, the expansion draft, and free agency are all on hold until a deal is made. The league raised the salary cap from $1.5 million to $5.65 million. By 2031, the highest salaries could be $2 million. These numbers show that the league is ready to spend money. With the right deal, both sides can win. They just need to agree on something.