Things between the CBA and the Players’ Union haven’t reached a decision yet, and it looks like they won’t be coming to an agreement anytime soon. But, with the clock striking midnight on the CBA negotiations, WNBPA VP Breanna Stewart just drew a firm line in the sand

Speaking to ESPN on Thursday after practice at Unrivaled, the New York Liberty star and Players’ Union Vice President confirmed that the league and players’ union will not agree to an extension before the deadline. Instead, they will be moving into a “status quo” period while the negotiations will continue.

“We are not coming to an agreement by tomorrow, I can tell you that,” Stewart said. “We’re just going to continue to negotiate in good faith.”

The update comes amid ongoing tension between the league and the players over core economic issues, most notably revenue sharing. While the WNBPA has pushed for a share of gross revenue, arguing that players, who drive the product but do not control operating costs, shouldn’t effectively be paid last, the league favors a model tied to net revenue, the money left after teams and the league expenses are covered.

The league argued that the union’s 30% gross revenue proposal, combined with a proposed $10.5 million salary cap, could result in $700 million in losses over the life of the agreement, more than the combined losses of the league and its teams in its first 29 seasons. But the players still have the option to go on a strike, which could result in a work stoppage and push the 2026 season to later in the year. However, they do not plan on playing that card right now.

“(It’s) not something that we’re going to do right this second,” Breanna Stewart said. “But we have that in our back pocket.”

Even with the league’s last proposals that would have raised the maximum player salaries above $1.3 million, average pay past $530,000, and minimums over $250,000, the union leadership is standing firm on its ground that the numbers still do not reflect players’ true share of the revenue they generate.

“The players know the difference between doing business and creating clickbait,” WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson said in a statement released by USA TODAY. “They are focused on the system… They want a meaningful share of the revenue they are creating. They do not want to be paid last with only a fraction of the dollars left over.”

The players have sent a clear message: they are standing firm together for a fair deal, and compromise will only come on their terms.

Fellow players back up Breanna Stewart

The Unrivaled co-founder was backed up by other stars in the league. Just like Stewart, the other players also believe that the league’s current offer is not enough. The Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers noted that while there are areas where both sides could find common ground, there are fundamental issues the players simply aren’t willing to concede.

“There are some things we just won’t budge on, and we think that we should stand firm in, and then there are things we think we can meet halfway on,” she said.

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Besides a change in pay, Breanna Stewart & Co.’s demands include consistent travel standards like charter flights, better health and retirement benefits, and stronger support around family-planning and pregnancy policies. According to the players, increasing compensation will help in the growth of the business and, at the same time, will guarantee better working conditions and security for athletes throughout their careers, especially when they are the reason behind that growth.

On the other hand, Chelsea Gray also added, “That’s what negotiating is. There are compromises on both ends. There are some things that we’re not willing to compromise on, so there’s a standard that we won’t go below. And so that means that we’re having to wait a little longer to not go below our standard, then that’s what it is.”

For now, neither side is escalating the conflict. The players are not going on strike, and the league isn’t discussing a lockout. Despite the disagreements, both parties remain confident that a deal will be reached before the 2026 season begins. Do you agree with the Players’ Union? Sound off in the comments.