WNBA’s Napheesa Collier and Caitlin Clark (X)
WNBA labour talks appear to be at a standstill, with the league yet to respond to a collective bargaining agreement proposal submitted by players nearly two weeks ago, according to a report by Front Office Sports, as the January 9 deadline for a new deal fast approaches.
The current CBA was originally due to expire on Nov. 30, but both sides agreed to extend negotiations until Jan. 9. In mid-December, WNBA players voted to give union leadership, including WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike, the authority to initiate a strike if talks break down.
At the core of the impasse is money, and more specifically, how revenue is defined, shared and accounted for.
The WNBPA is pushing for a true revenue-sharing model, proposing that players receive 30% of gross revenue alongside a salary cap of roughly $10.5 million.
The league reportedly rejected the proposal — claiming it would be financially unsustainable — and, as per ESPN, recently countered by offering players more than 50% of net revenue (i.e. revenue after expenses) along with major salary increases.
Under that framework, average salaries would rise from approximately $120,000 to $530,000, while maximum salaries would jump from $249,244 to $1.3 million immediately and approach $2 million by the end of the deal. The proposed salary cap would begin at $5 million and grow in line with revenue sharing.
However, the definition of “revenue” and the transparency around expenses remain major sticking points, with trust between the two sides increasingly strained.
Minnesota Lynx star and WNBPA vice president Napheesa Collier recently echoed the players’ stance in the whole WNBA-CBA revenue saga.
“You’ve heard a lot of chatter about what we’re asking for is not sustainable for the business,” Collier said during an Unrivaled broadcast on Monday.
“Being on this side with Unrivaled, I know what it takes to run a sustainable business. If they can’t find a model that makes it happen, they need to put people in place who can. We’ve proven that it is possible. There is a way. We’re thriving in that.”
With the sides still far apart on foundational issues, the prospect of labour disruption is growing.
Any strike could have significant ripple effects, especially with the WNBA planning to add expansion teams in Portland and Toronto in 2026, bringing the league to 15 teams, and the 2026 season scheduled to tip off in May.
(with agency inputs)