The WNBA and gamers union have agreed to a 30-day extension to proceed negotiations for a brand new collective bargaining settlement (CBA).
Nonetheless, the settlement comes with the caveat that gamers can terminate the extension at any time with two days’ discover to the league.
“Whereas we believed negotiations can be additional alongside, the gamers are extra targeted, united and decided than ever to achieve an settlement that displays their worth and plain influence on the league,” the union assertion mentioned.
The present CBA was set to run out on Friday, and tensions have been rising in latest weeks as the edges attempt to work towards a brand new deal.
The brand new November 30 deadline provides the edges extra time to provide you with a brand new deal that may be transformational for the gamers by way of wage. In 2019, when the final CBA deal had expired, the edges agreed to a 60-day extension and finally ratified the present CBA in January 2020.
The perimeters have had conferences over the previous few days, together with in New York on Thursday.
Had an extension not been reached by Friday, the edges would have had three choices: let issues proceed as is, have the gamers go on strike or the house owners lock them out. A strike or lockout made little sense for both aspect to do.
Gamers have already been paid for the previous season and so they have medical health insurance by April 30, 2026. There aren’t any main occasions for the league on the speedy horizon till an growth draft for brand spanking new groups Portland and Toronto. The growth draft for Golden State passed off final December.
The gamers exercised their proper to decide out of the present CBA final yr with hopes of getting, amongst different issues, elevated income sharing, larger salaries, improved advantages and a softer wage cap.
The WNBA’s presents thus far have clearly not been to the gamers’ liking, though it’s unclear how far aside the edges are by way of wage parameters. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert mentioned throughout the WNBA Finals that the league — just like the gamers — desires a “transformative deal” completed with vital will increase to wage and advantages.
Printed on Oct 31, 2025