After months of failed negotiations and rising tensions, the WNBA and players union met for the first time in 2026 earlier this week to continue discussions to reach a new collective bargaining agreement. However, the two sides found they still have significant gaps to overcome. They left the meeting reportedly without much \u2014 if any \u2014 movement toward compromise as the season looms about three months away.<\/p>\n
It begs the question: Where is the urgency?<\/p>\n
The last formal CBA proposal from either party was submitted by the Women\u2019s National Basketball Players Association at the end of December. Even as the extension to the CBA lapsed and the normal offseason calendar was set to begin with the qualifying offers and core designations, there had been no progress toward scheduling new meetings or offering meaningful amendments to the existing proposals.<\/p>\n
Movement was supposed to come at Monday\u2019s session, but again, there were no new proposals and plans for another sit-down. Instead, per sources familiar with the negotiations, the union is still waiting for a WNBA response, as five weeks have passed without an indication of whether they\u2019ll receive a counter.<\/p>\n
Stalling is a tactic. It can be effective in negotiations, even in a monumental labor fight such as this one. However, this negotiation is 15 months in<\/a>. The WNBA has two drafts and a free agency period to conduct, as well as a massive television deal to uphold. Dragging their feet as a negotiating ploy would have been suitable earlier in the process, not when the league is actually missing out on scheduled offseason events. Free agency \u2014 which includes several league stars this offseason \u2014 should have started this week.<\/p>\n The WNBA is riding an unprecedented wave of goodwill after a period of rocketing growth. The players are more visible and supported than ever. Both sides need the conversation to return to basketball instead of the protracted labor dispute.<\/p>\n They\u2019re having a staring contest when they should be drumming up interest in the WNBA\u2019s 30th season<\/a>, a significant achievement considering the precarious position the league was in just a few years ago.<\/p>\n The time for discussing sentiments and philosophies instead of concrete details has passed. A process that began in October 2024 should be further along than defining progress as the sides deign to sit down in person with one another. But both sides are seemingly content with the pace of negotiations, even as the WNBA and its players are missing out on an opportunity to continue the league\u2019s momentum and grow its fan base.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of women\u2019s sports, I think this is one of the biggest moments we\u2019ve ever had,\u201d Caitlin Clark said on NBC\u2019s Basketball Night in America Sunday. \u201cWe\u2019re in this moment because of the product we put on the floor, so we need to be able to continue to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Caitlin Clark is confident the WNBA will reach a new CBA within the next few weeks pic.twitter.com\/peJ80KyMZr<\/a><\/p>\n