WNBA Labor Standoff: 11 Steps to Current Impasse

The WNBA and its players' union, the WNBPA, missed a key deadline last Friday for a new collective bargaining agreement, leading to a moratorium that freezes free agency and all contract moves. This standoff comes after months of tense talks in New York and elsewhere, driven by the league's rapid growth and demands for higher pay. Both sides now operate under status quo rules from the old deal, with the 2026 season set to start in May.

Background

Talks for a new CBA picked up steam over the past year, but the roots go back years. The league and players signed their last major deal in January 2020, calling it major at the time. That agreement brought higher salaries, better free agency rules, improved travel, and family benefits. It also added a prioritization rule, forcing players to put WNBA duties ahead of overseas play. Players could face suspension if they showed up late to camp because of foreign leagues. Many players still play overseas in the offseason to make ends meet, a practice that started with the WNBA's launch in 1997.

League revenue has exploded since then, thanks to stars like Caitlin Clark and A'ja Wilson, sold-out arenas, and media deals. The 2020 CBA was set to run until 2027 but stayed in effect only through October 2025. Right after the 2024 Finals, where New York won the title, the WNBPA opted out. They wanted a deal that matched the players' value with bigger paychecks, better health care, and growth investments. Formal talks began soon after, but gaps grew wide.

In late 2024, the league announced full charter flights starting in 2025, spending $50 million over two years. This fixed long-standing complaints about commercial travel wearing players down. The move came amid player health pushes, but it also meant charters no longer needed CBA approval—they just needed mention in the next deal.

Key Details

The path to this week's impasse includes 11 key moments that built frustration on both sides.

Early Tensions and Growth

1. 2020 CBA Signing: The deal promised raises but locked in prioritization, angering some players who rely on overseas cash.

2. Overseas Play Debates: Players kept signing with foreign teams, but the prioritization rule bit in 2023 with suspensions for late arrivals.

3. Charter Flights Rollout: In 2024, private jets became standard, easing travel woes but sparking talks on how to bake it into the CBA.

4. 2024 Finals Opt-Out: One day after New York's championship, the union pulled out, eyeing the league's boom.

Rising Pressures

5. Rival Leagues Emerge: Unrivaled launched in the U.S., giving players options and use. Napheesa Collier noted it forces the WNBA to pay up.

6. Nneka Ogwumike's Move: In November 2025, the WNBPA president joined Project B, a new league set for Europe and Asia in 2026.

7. Strike Vote: Players approved a strike in December 2025, nearly unanimous, keeping it as an option.

8. Inflatable Rat Protest: On deadline day, January 9, a giant rat balloon appeared outside the NBA Store in New York, a classic labor sign of bad faith.

9. Union Statement: The WNBPA said the league failed to negotiate in good spirit, risking player jobs and fan trust.

10. League Response: WNBA leaders stressed building on momentum with big salary jumps and long-term stability.

11. Deadline Miss: No deal or extension by 11:59 p.m. Friday, shifting to status quo.

Talks stalled mainly on revenue sharing. The league offers 70% of net revenue—gross minus costs—with a $5 million salary cap in 2026 and max pay of $1.3 million after shares. Players want 30% of gross revenue, pushing the cap to $10.5 million. The league says the player plan would cost $700 million over the deal.

"Other opportunities just give us more use basically to make [the WNBA] do the right thing and to pay us what we're owed." – Napheesa Collier

WNBA teams got word last week to prep qualifying offers and core spots under old rules, but players hold off amid CBA uncertainty. All but two veterans are free agents this offseason.

What This Means

The moratorium, agreed Monday, halts free agency, qualifying offers, cores, signings, and talks until a new CBA passes. It avoids chaos after free agency technically opened Sunday under status quo. No anti-strike or anti-lockout rules apply now—either side could stop work without notice. Players voted for strike power weeks ago, but leader Terri Jackson said no strike right away. The league shows no lockout signs.

Status quo keeps most old terms, like facility access, unless a stoppage hits. Player hubs offer support nets. With May tipoff months away, pressure builds. A transformative deal could double or triple pay, matching the league's surge. Rival leagues like Unrivaled and Project B add bargaining chips, letting players sit out if needed. Free agents wait, teams plan without signings, and fans watch for resolution. Both camps say they want a pact that grows the game for years.