WNBA agreement nearing completion: Key details we have

WNBA CBA Negotiations Continue

The ongoing negotiations for the WNBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement have now stretched into their seventh day. Both WNBA officials and representatives from the Women’s National Basketball Players Association are set to meet again on Monday afternoon, as discussions seem to be slowing down. This stalemate raises concerns about the potential delay in the 2026 season’s start.

League commissioner Cathy Engelbert mentioned last week that there would be a deadline on Monday for concluding these negotiations; otherwise, the preseason timeline could be impacted.

Since Tuesday, approximately 90 hours of in-person meetings have yielded some gradual progress, though specific details regarding advancements or remaining issues have been sparse.

On Saturday, WNBPA Chairman Nneka Ogwumike indicated that significant obstacles still relate to revenue sharing and housing provisions. She noted that some pressing matters had been addressed, but more work is still necessary. “There is still work to do, but ultimately we hope to complete this transaction,” Ogwumike shared.

The players are advocating for several improvements, including league-funded housing, a higher salary cap than the recently proposed $6.2 million, enhanced medical benefits, and support for retired players. They’re also seeking to change the core designation and secure a fair division of league and team revenues.

In these negotiation rounds, the players’ union has requested a 26 percent share of the league’s total revenue, while the league’s offer is around 15 percent. The current status of these figures remains unclear as Monday’s meeting approaches.

Additionally, the WNBA needs to prepare for an upcoming two-team expansion draft, a major free agency period, and a college draft. Scheduled training camps are set to begin on April 19, with preseason games starting right after. The Liberty is slated to kick off the preseason against the Fever on April 25.

The league’s 30th season is slated to launch on May 8. Engelbert appears hopeful about the possibility of reaching a compromise and concluding what has been a lengthy negotiation process of over 17 months. “We’re going to keep going,” she told reporters. “We’re going to get this deal done…and it’s going to be historic.”