Nearly a year into tense CBA negotiations, the WNBPA’s recent move to authorize a potential strike has put the league firmly on notice. And even as the WNBA issued a public response disputing the union’s portrayal of talks, a past statement from players’ union executive director Terri Jackson has resurfaced, offering a reminder of why players say they’ve been pushed to the brink of taking such drastic measures.

In an interview with Khristina Williams over a month ago, Jackson addressed the potential for a work stoppage and underscored the pressure that would drive such an action.

“If a work stoppage were to happen, I want fans to realize that it should not have happened, that nobody wanted this to happen. At least nobody on the player side of the table would have wanted this to happen,” Terri Jackson said.

“We understand, and we see not just the moment, but the momentum that women’s sports is having and that the W is experiencing. So if this happens, if the players were to strike, I want the fans to understand. It’s because we were pushed to a point of no return, it’s because we were pushed to a point in which the league and the teams did not take us seriously, that they were not willing to engage.”

The WNBA recently issued a statement pushing back on the union’s characterization of ongoing negotiations, calling it a “fundamental misrepresentation” of what is happening at the table. The league also emphasized that it has been actively proposing CBA modifications, including immediate salary increases of roughly 15% and a new revenue-sharing model.

But the union’s willingness to authorize a strike signals that the divide between players and the league is only growing.

Even Breanna Stewart, WNBPA Vice President, highlighted the union’s frustration with the negotiation process, telling Front Office Sports, “More often than not, we’re the ones that are willing to compromise, and they still aren’t budging. So if they are not going to budge, we’re going to get to this point where we’re going to be at a standoff. That’s kind of where we’re at right now.”

The negotiations have been ongoing for over a year now, and both entities agreed to a second extension of the current CBA, marking January 9th as the latest deadline for reaching an agreement. Unless, of course, they agree to another extension. In which case, the 2026 WNBA season would be delayed, as the WNBA expansion draft and the beginning of free agency, where more than 100 players will be required to decide their next move, will be pushed to a later date.

Terri Jackson doubles down as CBA deadline nears

With the clock ticking toward the WNBA’s new deadline, Jackson has made it clear that patience inside the union is wearing thin. Speaking to CNBC Sport in her latest appearance, Jackson admitted frustration with how negotiations have unfolded, while reiterating that the players remain committed to staying at the table.

“We’re a little frustrated with where we are right now, but we are holding to our principles,” Terri Jackson said. “We’ll be at the table for as long as they take, and we’re hopeful that there’s enough folks on the team side of things that will start to push these things along.”

While the league’s latest proposal has given a significant boost to the salaries of the players, it’s just not enough.

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The WNBA has proposed a structure that would guarantee $1 million as the base salary for max players, with projected revenue sharing pushing total earnings beyond $1.2 million by 2026. However, the WNBPA seeks 29-34% compared to the league’s proposed (15%), as players push for significant improvements in several quality-of-life and structural areas that have long been pain points under the current CBA.

Although Jackson declined to detail specific sticking points due to nondisclosure agreements, she acknowledged that progress has been slow. After the WNBA finalized a media rights deal that reportedly increased league revenue sixfold, players have pushed for a larger share of that financial upside.

“It’s hard for us to understand why we are so far apart on the things that we should be closer to,” she said. “It seems as though at times, the league and the teams come into the negotiating room with a mentality that pay equity is optional and pay equity is not optional.”

Despite the mounting pressure, Terri Jackson reiterated that the union’s goal remains avoiding a work stoppage altogether, especially with the 2026 season set to tip off in May.

“Nobody wants to see that happen,” she said. “We understand their position. They understand ours.”

For now, both sides remain at the table. But Jackson’s resurfaced comments serve as a reminder of how close the league may be to a breaking point. And while the strike authorization was not a formal announcement of a work stoppage, but a display of unity from players, fans eagerly await the outcome of these negotiations.