Time is becoming the one thing neither side has much of. With the 2026 season inching closer, the WNBA and the WNBPA remain far apart on major collective bargaining issues. Still, there is one crucial point where both sides appear aligned: neither wants games to be missed.

That shared understanding has emerged as negotiations drag on, even with no formal breakthrough on the CBA itself. Basketball analyst Sabreena Merchant recently explained why a work stoppage makes little sense as leverage in this situation.

“I really don’t think that either party wants to miss games. Like, I don’t think as a negotiating point makes sense for either side to miss games. Like I have seen other lockouts where you could tell one side was like, yeah, we have no problem cutting this to a half-length season or even getting rid of the season because there are critical issues we need to iron out.”

Merchant went on to underline why this negotiation feels different from past labor disputes across sports. “Whereas I don’t get the sense where the WNBA or the players’ association believes missing games is going to help their cause.”

That perspective reflects the reality both sides face. Cancelled games would immediately hit ticket sales, broadcasting revenue, sponsorship commitments, and overall league momentum. After years of steady growth, neither the league nor the players wants to risk undoing that progress.

Even if a CBA agreement were finalized tomorrow, the season would not automatically fall into place. Key issues such as retirement benefits, housing standards, and developmental roster spots still need to be addressed and implemented.

With the regular season scheduled to tip off May 8, the timeline is tightening fast. Every passing week increases the strain on league operations, team planning, and player preparation.

WNBA Submits New CBA Proposal To Players Union

In an effort to keep talks moving, the WNBA has submitted a new proposal to the players’ union. The proposal arrived roughly a week after an early-February meeting, according to reporting cited by USA Today Sports. While the details have not been made public, the move itself signaled renewed engagement from the league office.

Still, the core disagreement remains unchanged. Revenue sharing continues to be the primary sticking point.

The players are seeking approximately 30 percent of gross league revenue, and until meaningful progress is made in that area, uncertainty will linger over the season’s start.

WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike has been explicit about what the players want and what they do not. “I know our players 100% want to play this year,” Ogwumike said. “We want a season. We made the point that once we nail (revenue sharing), we can get everything else done.”

At the same time, Ogwumike emphasized that while a strike remains a theoretical option, it is not something the union is rushing toward. “You know, we’re not just going to say, ‘Hey, today’s the day (we’ll strike),’” she said. “You know, I think that’s what we’re demonstrating right now is negotiating in good faith.”

Several major league events are currently on hold as talks continue. The expansion draft for the Toronto Tempo and Portland’s new franchise must still be completed. Free agency and the WNBA Draft are also waiting on clarity from the CBA process.

For now, good faith negotiations remain intact, built largely on the shared desire to avoid cancelled games. But that common ground is narrow. If trust erodes, particularly around revenue sharing, the consequences could extend well beyond this season. For a league still building its long-term foundation, the coming weeks may prove decisive.