{"id":257899,"date":"2025-11-03T02:33:35","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T02:33:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/257899\/"},"modified":"2025-11-03T02:33:35","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T02:33:35","slug":"wnba-and-union-reportedly-agree-to-30-day-cba-extension-as-negotiations-continue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/257899\/","title":{"rendered":"WNBA and union reportedly agree to 30-day CBA extension as negotiations continue"},"content":{"rendered":"

Collective bargaining negotiations between the WNBA and WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) will continue under a 30-day extension of the deadline, according to The Athletic’s Ben Pickman<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The deadline for a new deal was Friday after the union opted out of the 2020 CBA<\/a> in October 2024. WNBPA president Terri Jackson said the players made that decision to \u201crealign the business and save the league from its own limitations.\u201d Players are focused on a revenue-sharing structure that allows their salaries to grow with the business rather than fixed salaries outlined through the extent of the CBA.<\/p>\n

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The sides hoped they could reach a deal by the deadline, but acknowledged throughout the summer that there was little wiggle room.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I hope we make the Oct. 31 deadline, and that is a real deadline from that perspective, we have extended deadlines in the past,\u201d WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said at her Finals address ahead of Game 1.<\/p>\n

On Friday morning, the WNBPA said in a statement<\/a>: “The WNBPA Executive Committee agreed to the league’s proposed 30-day extension of the current CBA, with the condition that the players may terminate the extension at any time with 48 hours’ notice.<\/p>\n

“While we believed negotiations would be further along, the players are more focused, united, and determined than ever to reach an agreement that reflects their value and undeniable impact on the league.”<\/p>\n

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Tensions rose publicly over the last month<\/a> leading into the Finals and in the weeks afterward, all but assuring an extension would be needed for the sides to come to an agreement. It reached a new peak last week when Jackson took aim at NBA Commissioner Adam Silver\u2019s comments on rev-share and salaries<\/a>, alleging the union is \u201cprepared to do business,\u201d while the WNBA responded with \u201cbad math<\/a>\u201d and a vocabulary that doesn\u2019t include \u201cshare.\u201d (Engelbert reports to Silver.)<\/p>\n

The league, in a rare move, hit back, calling it<\/a> \u201cfrustrating and counterproductive for the union to be making misrepresentations about our proposals while also assuring the league of engaging in delay.\u201d More than 70 legislators sent a letter to Engelbert and Silver last week<\/a> urging the league to \u201cbargain in good faith to reach a fair CBA in a timely manner.\u201d The 2025 postseason was the most-watched ever on ESPN networks<\/a> ahead of the league\u2019s first season of a $2.2 billion media rights deal. It also set league-wide attendance records.<\/p>\n

Why isn\u2019t a CBA deal done?<\/p>\n

The wedge issue for players is the revenue sharing structure<\/a> that they feel needs to be agreed upon first before fully discussing down-ballot issues. The union wants a new system that would tie their salaries to the business, paying a percentage of revenue generated that would have a fluctuating salary cap. The league proposed a more lucrative version of the current CBA that sets a fixed salary cap with additional revenue sharing that kicks in if certain targets are met.<\/p>\n

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There is no clear picture of either side\u2019s proposal, but there are snapshots. The league offered a minimum salary of $300,000, CBA committee co-chair Satou Sabally said during the Finals<\/a>. The league did not address that number specifically in a request for comment from Yahoo Sports. The maximum in that league proposal is reportedly $850,000.<\/p>\n

Those are fourfold increases from the 2025 vet minimum ($78,831) and player maximum ($214,466). The player supermax was $249,244. Players remain steadfast in their push for a revenue-sharing system, but have not disclosed specific details.<\/p>\n

WNBPA first vice president Kelsey Plum said in August that the union <\/a>is seeking the \u201csame percentage of revenue or a similar percentage of revenue\u201d as the NBA players. The NBA (49-51%), NFL (48%) and NHL (50%) are all at or close to 50-50 splits. The 2020 WNBA CBA outlined a path to a 50-50 split, but targets were not met during the pandemic season.<\/p>\n

The influx of cash to be divided up comes predominantly from the media rights deal and expansion fees paid by six teams, totaling $925 million. Merchandise, ticket sales and the like are all up as well.<\/p>\n

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WNBA history of extended negotiations<\/p>\n

The league and union have a history of extending the deadline. They did so in 2019 with a 60-day extension, ultimately announcing an agreement on Jan. 14, 2020. The previous CBA expired on Sept. 30, 2013, a date set with the expectation that the season would be completed.<\/p>\n

The postseason continued without a reported extension while they played in a status quo situation. Weeks later, the Minnesota Lynx won their second championship in three years. A new agreement was announced in February.<\/a><\/p>\n

The closest the league came to a canceled season came after the first CBA expired on Sept. 15, 2002. It was the first CBA for a professional women\u2019s league when it was enacted for the league\u2019s third season. Discussions extended into April and forced the league to postpone its player draft.<\/p>\n

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The NBA Board of Governors threatened to cancel the season<\/a> if the WNBA and its players’ association did not agree to a contract by April 18. They signed a deal at 3 a.m.<\/a> the day of the rescheduled collegiate draft, introducing free agency for the first time and a 17% total increase in salaries over four years.<\/p>\n

No previous CBA offseason compares to the work that needs to be completed this time around. Expansion franchises in Portland and Toronto will have an expansion draft, with guidelines that Engelbert has said will be collectively bargained. Golden State\u2019s expansion draft was held in December 2024. There is also the draft lottery, often held in early November, and a bonanza of a free agency period in February since most of the players in the league are free agents.<\/p>\n