Standoff at the Summit: Why the WNBA CBA Negotiations Have Hit a Wall

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The WNBA is currently navigating the most turbulent labor period in its 30-year history. On Friday night, January 9, 2026, the midnight deadline for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) passed without a deal or even a third extension.

As a result, the league has officially entered a “Status Quo” period. While the 2026 season is not yet in jeopardy, the machinery of the league—including free agency and expansion drafts—has effectively ground to a halt.

1. The Heart of the Conflict: Gross vs. Net

The primary roadblock is a fundamental disagreement over how the league’s newfound wealth should be shared.⁵With a $2.2 billion media rights deal set to kick in and franchise valuations skyrocketing, the two sides are worlds apart on the math:

The Players’ Demand (The “Gross” Model): The WNBPA is seeking roughly 30% of gross revenue. They argue that player labor is the direct driver of the league’s 170% viewership surge and that their pay should reflect the total “pie” before owners deduct expenses.
The League’s Offer (The “Net” Model): The WNBA has countered with a proposal where players receive 70% of net revenue (profits after expenses). The league argues that the union’s gross revenue model would lead to $700 million in losses over the life of the deal, as the league still incurs massive costs for charter flights, upgraded facilities, and marketing.

“We are not asking for a charity project; we are asking for an equity-based model that reflects the business we have built,” WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike stated. “Running out the clock is not a negotiation strategy.”

2. The $750 Million Expansion Question

A new and significant sticking point involves expansion fees. The league is set to receive $750 million from new franchises in Portland, Toronto, and Orlando by 2030.

The Union views this as “basketball-related income” that should be factored into the salary cap.
The League maintains that expansion fees belong solely to the existing owners to compensate for the “dilution” of future revenue as the pie is split among more teams.

3. The Logistical “Freeze”

The lack of a CBA has created a massive bottleneck for the 2026 season:

Free Agency in Limbo: Originally scheduled to begin this week, free agency is effectively frozen. Without a confirmed salary cap, teams cannot legally sign the record number of “super-agents” currently on the market.
Expansion Draft Delays: The expansion draft for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire has been postponed. These new franchises cannot build their rosters until the CBA framework—specifically the “protected player” rules—is finalized.
The “Moratorium”: Both sides have agreed to a temporary moratorium on all league transactions to avoid a chaotic period of “qualifying offers” under an expired system.

CBA Comparison: The Two Proposals

Feature	League Proposal (Net)	WNBPA Proposal (Gross)
Salary Cap	~$5 Million	~$10.5 Million
Max Base Salary	$1.3 Million (can grow to $2M)	TBD (Scales with Gross Rev)
Avg. Player Salary	~$530,000	~$750,000+
Housing	Players pay own housing	Teams continue to provide housing

4. The Threat of a Strike

While Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver have expressed a desire to avoid a lockout, the players have already voted with 98% approval to authorize a strike if necessary.

Breanna Stewart noted that while a strike isn’t “imminent,” the union has already established “Player Hubs” (private training facilities in the U.S. and Spain) to ensure players can stay in game shape should they choose to walk out during training camp in April.

5. What Happens Next?

The league and union are expected to return to the table this week. The “Status Quo” allows them to keep talking, but the pressure will mount as the April Draft and May Tip-off approach. For a league that has never missed a game due to labor disputes, the stakes have never been higher for the WNBA.