Just a day after WNBPA Vice President Breanna Stewart called for NBA commissioner Adam Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum to step in for the CBA negotiations, because what they are doing “isn’t really working.” The tensions between the WNBA and the players’ union have never been higher.

After players overwhelmingly authorised the WNBPA’s executive committee to call a strike if necessary, the league has issued an official statement pushing back strongly on the union’s characterisation of ongoing CBA negotiations, calling it a “fundamental misrepresentation” of what is happening at the bargaining table.

In the statement, the league stated, “We are aware that the players have voted to authorize the WNBPA Executive Committee to call a strike if the Executive Committee decides to take that step in the future. While we acknowledge the players right to authorize a future work stoppage, we strongly disagree with the WNBPA’s characterization of the current state of negotiations, which fundamentally misrepresents the ongoing discussions taking place at the bargaining table. It is difficult to understand claims that the league is resistant to change, particularly given that we are proposing numerous CBA modifications including significant immediate salary increases and a new uncapped revenue-sharing model that would ensure continued salary growth tied to revenue growth.”

The league also stressed that it remains committed to reaching a new agreement quickly, framing its approach as both urgent and good-faith.

According to the WNBA, its proposals are designed not only to raise player pay and improve benefits in the short term, but also to protect the league’s long-term growth and sustainability for future generations of players.

And while they have acknowledged the players’ right to authorise a future work stoppage, the WNBA emphasised that it is actively proposing numerous modifications, including immediate salary increases of roughly 15%.

Still, their different public positions make it clear that the WNBPA and the WNBA remain far from an agreement as the CBA deadline continues to loom.

The negotiations have been ongoing for over a year, with the latest deadline for reaching an agreement set for January 9th.

However, with almost 3 more weeks to find a common ground, if the league and the union fail to finalise a deal, or if the players go on a strike, it would delay the WNBA expansion draft and the beginning of free agency, where more than 100 players will be required to decide their next move, which usually starts in late January.

Where the WNBA and WNBPA Stand in Ongoing CBA Negotiations

While the strike authorization was not a formal announcement of a work stoppage, it served as a clear display of unity from players as the talks continue over pay, benefits, and long-term protections. The gap remains significant. The league has proposed a structure that would guarantee a $1 million base salary for max players, with projected revenue sharing pushing total earnings beyond $1.2 million by 2026, roughly 15% of league revenue.

Beyond the headline-grabbing revenue sharing dispute, where the WNBPA seeks 29-34% compared to the league’s proposed ~15%—players are pushing for significant improvements in several quality-of-life and structural areas that have long been pain points under the current CBA.

Top Stories

Fact Check: Were Greg Biffle & Family On the Plane That Crashed At Statesville, North Carolina?

“Rest in Peace”: Prayers Pour In From Dan Marino as Dolphins Legend Mourns Tragedy in South Florida Football

Carlos Alcaraz’s Split With Coach Resulted From ‘Major Disagreements’ With His Father

Who Is Greg Biffle’s Wife? Everything You Need to Know About Cristina Grossu

Footage Surfaces of Florida Police Arresting NASCAR Veteran Over Disturbing Public Misbehavior

Tony Pauline’s 2-Round 2026 Mock Draft: Browns Secure Franchise QB, Commanders Beat Chiefs to Jeremiyah Love

These include:

• Expanded benefits: Enhanced retirement pensions, better family planning and maternity support (including fertility treatments and childcare), and improved health insurance for current and retired players.
• Calendar and roster changes: Adjustments to the season schedule to reduce overseas play demands, larger roster sizes to provide more job security, and modifications to the “core” designation (similar to the NFL’s franchise tag, which restricts free agency).
• Working conditions: Greater protections and resources, addressing longstanding issues that players describe as “draconian provisions” restricting them for nearly three decades.

The growing influence of alternative leagues, Project B, and Unrivaled, complicates matters further as well. The rise of Unrivaled, a 3×3 tournament, which gives the WNBA players an alternative during the offseason to stay and play in the States, is now entering its second season and expanding with two additional teams.

While Unrivaled operates in the offseason, it is still viewed as a competitor, particularly given that it offers players salaries higher than the current WNBA salaries, which range from a rookie minimum of roughly $66,000 to supermax contracts approaching $250,000.

As per reports, in the 2025 season of this tournament, no player made less than 6 figures.

The emergence of Project B has raised the stakes even further! According to Front Office Sports, the proposed 5-on-5 global league is offering seven-figure salaries starting at $2 million annually, with multi-year deals reaching eight figures and equity included for players.

While neither Unrivaled nor Project B directly replaces the WNBA, their rapid rise has given the players an alternative, which could further impact the importance of the WNBA in the future. And if that’s something the league wants to avoid, they will have to listen to their players.