WNBA and players’ union hold lengthy meeting in renewed attempt to advance CBA talks

NEW YORK — The WNBA and the league’s players’ union sat down for an extended meeting on Monday in an effort to restart collective bargaining negotiations that have seen little progress in recent weeks.

The discussions, which lasted roughly three hours, marked the first in-person engagement between the two sides in several weeks. The meeting took place at the NBA’s New York offices and brought together league executives, team owners, union leadership, and dozens of players as both parties attempted to find common ground on a new collective bargaining agreement.

WNBA Players Association president Nneka Ogwumike departed the meeting shortly after 1:30 p.m., having arrived earlier that morning. When approached by reporters, Ogwumike declined to comment on the outcome of the talks. She was accompanied by union executive committee members Brianna Turner and Alysha Clark.

Several prominent players also participated in the meeting. Kelsey Plum and Napheesa Collier were scheduled to attend in person but were unable to travel to New York due to flight complications. Instead, they joined the discussions remotely, along with fellow star Breanna Stewart.

Strong representation from league leadership and ownership

On the league side, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert was present alongside members of the league’s labor relations committee. Ownership representation was notable, with New York Liberty co-owners Clara Wu Tsai and Joe Tsai attending in person, as well as Seattle Storm owner Ginny Gilder and Storm co-owner Sue Bird.

Phoenix Mercury owner Mat Ishbia participated via teleconference, while approximately 40 players were involved in the meeting either in person or remotely, reflecting the growing urgency surrounding the stalled negotiations.

According to two individuals familiar with the discussions, the meeting featured direct dialogue between players and team owners. Those individuals spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive and confidential nature of ongoing labor talks.

Negotiations remain at an impasse

Despite the face-to-face meeting, the broader negotiations have struggled to gain momentum in recent weeks. The players’ union has maintained that it is awaiting a formal response from the league to a proposal it submitted around Christmas.

That proposal reportedly included a request for players to receive 30% of the league’s gross revenue, a figure the union believes more accurately reflects the growth and commercial success of the WNBA.

However, according to another source familiar with the bargaining process who spoke to the AP last month, league officials did not believe the union’s proposal represented a meaningful change from earlier submissions. As a result, the league felt that the proposal did not require a new counteroffer at that time.

This disagreement over whether negotiations have substantively progressed has contributed to the current stalemate.

League’s most recent offer includes major salary increases

While talks remain unresolved, the league’s most recent proposal — made last month — outlined a significant increase in player compensation. Under that offer, the maximum base salary would rise to $1 million by the 2026 season, with the potential to reach $1.3 million through revenue-sharing mechanisms.

This would represent a dramatic increase from the current maximum salary of $249,000. Over the full duration of the proposed agreement, total earnings for top players could approach $2 million, according to the same source.

The league has pointed to these figures as evidence of its commitment to increasing player pay in line with the WNBA’s continued expansion and rising visibility.

Status quo period creates uncertainty

The two sides are currently operating under a “status quo” arrangement following the expiration of the most recent extension of the existing CBA on Jan. 9. Shortly thereafter, the league and union agreed to a temporary moratorium that halted early stages of free agency.

This pause has prevented teams from issuing qualifying offers or applying franchise tags, effectively freezing player movement while negotiations continue.

The uncertainty surrounding the labor talks has already had tangible consequences. The expansion draft for new franchises in Toronto and Portland has been postponed, and further delays could impact additional league operations if an agreement is not reached soon.

Potential impact on the 2026 season

If negotiations continue to stall, the start of the 2026 WNBA season could be pushed back. While the league released its schedule last month — with the regular season slated to tip off on May 8 — the absence of a finalized CBA leaves that timeline vulnerable.

History suggests that even once an agreement is reached, implementation takes time. The previous CBA was finalized in mid-January 2020, approximately a month after the two sides reached an agreement. In the current situation, it could take up to two months from the signing of a new deal before free agency can officially begin.

Given that free agency was initially scheduled to open last month, the ongoing delay underscores the urgency for both parties to find a resolution.

A critical moment for the league

As the WNBA continues to grow in popularity, revenue, and global reach, the outcome of these negotiations will play a major role in shaping the league’s future. Monday’s meeting represented a step toward renewed communication, but significant work remains before a new collective bargaining agreement can be finalized.

For now, players, teams, and fans alike remain in a holding pattern, waiting to see whether continued dialogue can finally break the deadlock and set the stage for the league’s next chapter.