The CBA negotiations between the WNBA and WNBPA continue to intensify as the current agreement’s Oct. 31 deadline quickly approaches.
Since Napheesa Collier called out WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Sept. 30, tension among Engelbert, players, and owners has continued to grow. Not to mention, fans in Phoenix booed the Commissioner during the Las Vegas Aces’ Finals trophy presentation on Oct. 10.
WNBA and WNBPA “Extremely Unlikely” to Reach New CBA Agreement
On Tuesday, Ben Pickman of The Athletic reported that the WNBA and WNBPA are “extremely unlikely” to reach an agreement on a new CBA.
NEWS: The WNBA and the WNBPA are extremely unlikely to reach a new CBA by Friday’s deadline, according to the players’ union legal counsel.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 28, 2025
“In a dance, it takes two to tango. And it has been difficult to find a beat.”
More from @benpickman ⤵️https://t.co/cgQsv5yZSQ
WNBPA senior advisor and legal counsel Erin D. Drake appeared on The Athletic’s “No Offseason” podcast, released on Tuesday, and stated that no deal will be completed by Friday.
“We have worked hard to be able to say on Friday, we did it. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen,” Drake said. “In a dance, it takes two to tango. And it has been difficult to find a beat, to find a rhythm and to find the same sense of urgency [from the league], just to be frank, to get this done.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Faces Backlash After CBA Comments
As a result, WNBA players and WNBPA criticized Silver’s comments, saying they deserve higher, equitable pay that includes a fair and adequate revenue share.
One week ago, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sparked debate after addressing the WNBA labor talks on NBC’s “Today Show.”
“I think ‘share isn’t the right way to look at it, Silver commented.
Throughout the 2025 season, players demanded better pay and rejected the league’s first proposal to the union. Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally has been vocal about the WNBA’s issues, such as scheduling and player compensation.
Several players across the league travel overseas during the offseason for higher salaries. The good news is that they have the option to stay in the United States and play in leagues like Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited.
“You know they know it’s bad when the best they say they can do is more of the same: a fixed salary system and a separate revenue-sharing plan that only includes a piece of a piece of the pie, and pays themselves (the league) back first,” WNBPA Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson said in a statement on Wednesday to The Athletic.
What’s Next: An Extension or a Work Stoppage?
Just a few hours later, Alexa Philippou of ESPN reported that the WNBA offered the WNBPA a 30-day extension to continue CBA negotiations and finalize a new deal.
Additionally, the players might consider an extension “under the right circumstances,” but a source says they believe “those circumstances do not yet exist.”
We have been negotiating with the Players Association in good faith and with urgency for several months with the goal of finalizing a new collective bargaining agreement as quickly as possible,” a WNBA spokesperson said, via ESPN. “Throughout this process, we have been clear that our top priority is reaching a new collective bargaining agreement that addresses players’ ask for significant increases in pay, benefits, and enhancements to their experience, while ensuring the long-term growth and success of the league and its teams.
“We urge the Players Association to spend less time disseminating public misinformation and more time joining us in constructive engagement across the table.”
The most recent CBA negotiations occurred in January 2020, following a 60-day extension granted during the 2019 negotiations.
As the Oct. 31 deadline for the WNBA and the WNBPA to reach a new CBA approaches, several questions remain unanswered. Most players will be unrestricted free agents in the upcoming free agency period, and the expansion drafts for both the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo are still to be determined.
How A work Stoppage Would Affect the WNBA
There are both pros and cons to the new CBA negotiations, as they could be transformative for the league. The WNBA has grown noticeably over the last few years, and that momentum is likely to continue, especially following the Caitlin Clark effect.
While Clark has moved the needle, the WNBA also has current and future stars like Paige Bueckers, JuJu Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo, Lauren Betts, Azzi Fudd, and Flau’Jae Johnson. With the league experiencing record-breaking growth in viewership, attendance, and merchandise, a work stoppage could halt that momentum and slow progress. The CBA negotiations come shortly after the league signed a $2.2 billion media rights deal.
A source said the players may be willing to consider an extension “under the right circumstances,” but they feel “those circumstances do not yet exist.” https://t.co/wghMS7t6kU
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) October 28, 2025
Yes, the league has to guarantee that growth is sustainable from a business perspective; however, the players are demanding a fair revenue share and a bigger piece of the pie.
One could argue that a labor strike might hurt the league more than the players. Set to tip off in January, Unrivaled offers players the opportunity to stay stateside during the offseason while earning salaries north of $200,000. While that benefits current players, Napheesa Collier told Glamour that surrendering would hinder the growth of women’s sports.
“If we give in, we’re not only doing a disservice to us, we’re doing a disservice to where we have gotten in women’s sports,” Collier told Glamour Magazine. “We really have no choice but to stand strong again, not just for the present, but for the future of our league too.”
*Article Co-Written by Aya Abdeen and Sara Jane Gamelli*
