Negotiations for a new WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) have reached a critical juncture. The current deal between the league and the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) is set to expire. This is the most important time in the history of the WNBA since the league’s inception. To bring you up to speed, here is Everything You Need To Know About the WNBA CBA Contract Talks.

The WNBPA Opted Out Of The CBA Last Year

Last year, the WNBPA exercised its right to opt out of the agreement. The WNBPA is pushing for a "transformational" contract that significantly increases player compensation, ties salaries more directly to the league's growing revenue, secures better benefits, and working conditions."This is a defining moment, not just for the WNBA, but for all of us who believe in progress," said Nneka Ogwumike, president of the WNBPA in a statement at the time. "The world has evolved since 2020, and we cannot afford to stand still. If we stay in the current agreement, we fall behind. "Opting out isn't just about bigger paychecks -- it's about claiming our rightful share of the business we've built, improving working conditions, and securing a future where the success we create benefits today's players and the generations to come."

The WNBA Has Experienced Tremendous Growth

Without question, the WNBA has experienced tremendous growth over the last several years. TV ratings, ticket sales, and merchandise sales have soared; expansion fees for new teams have reached $250 million. In July, the WNBA announced a new 11-year media rights deal featuring” partnerships with Disney, Amazon Prime Video, and NBCUniversal that’s valued at about $2.2 billion, or $200 million per year.”  According to reports, future agreements with additional partners could bring the league's overall media deals closer to $3 billion. 

What the Players Are Demanding

Key sticking points revolve around the players' demand for a more equitable revenue-sharing model and moving away from the current fixed salary structure. Many commentators and sports pundits have wrongly asserted that the players are seeking the same revenue deal as the NBA. Currently, the WNBA players receive about 9.3. a percentage of league revenue, which is significantly lower than the  50% of basketball-related income that NBA players receive. The WNBA players are not seeking the same terms as the NBA but are demanding a bigger slice of the pie that they helped to grow. Along with a new pay system, the players are demanding guaranteed full-time charter travel for all teams, as well as modifications to the controversial prioritization rule. This rule, which fines or suspends veteran players who report late due to lucrative overseas commitments, is seen by the union as an undue restriction on players' ability to maximize their income in a league with a relatively short season and lower salaries. Under the current deal, player salaries increase by 3 percent annually.

The WNBPA Has Accepted the 30-Day Extension. 

With the deadline looming and the two sides reportedly remaining far apart, the WNBA has offered a 30-day extension to continue talks and avoid a potential work stoppage.  The WNBPA has accepted the extension. Erin D. Drake, WNBPA senior adviser and legal counsel, said recently on The Athletic's "No Offseason" podcast that there will not be a new agreement by Oct.31. "We have worked hard to be able to say on Friday, we did it. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen," Drake said in the podcast episode. "In a dance, it takes two to tango. And it has been difficult to find a beat, to find a rhythm and to find the same sense of urgency [from the league], just to be frank, to get this done."

The Could Be a Work Stoppage

If the two sides can’t strike an agreement, the next step would be a work stoppage. If there is a lockout, “all league business would cease and players would be prevented from accessing team facilities.” Additionally, there will be no draft lottery, no expansion draft, no free agency, no trades, and no 2026 WNBA Draft. Everything will be put on hold until a new deal is reached. “There's a potential lockout. I promise you we aren't going to play until they give us what we deserve," Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said during her exit interview earlier this month. "That's kinda where it's headed unfortunately, which would be the dumbest basketball decision, business-wise ever, considering the momentum the W has."