WNBA players union labor collective bargaining deadline nears

The executive director of the WNBA Players Association told CNBC that she remains “disappointed” in the lack of progress toward a new collective bargaining agreement as the league’s new deadline to reach an agreement approaches.

“We’re a little disappointed with where we are right now, but we’re sticking to our principles,” Terri Jackson, executive director of the WNBPA, told CNBC Sport in an interview. “We remain open to the fact that these negotiations will continue, because they must. We will be at the table for as long as it takes and we hope that there are enough people on the team side to start moving these things forward.”

Jackson told CNBC Sport that she continues to meet with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert about a new business deal for the league. The CBA, or labor agreement, between the WNBA and its players expired on October 31, but the deadline for a new agreement was extended to January 9 after the parties failed to reach an agreement.

WNBA players are seeking significant pay raises to get a bigger share of the league’s revenue growth. The WNBA signed a media rights deal last year that resulted in a sixfold increase in revenue. The league and its players have been actively negotiating for months over issues related to salaries, benefits, working conditions and revenue sharing.

Jackson declined to talk about specifics of where the negotiations stand, citing the confidentiality agreement, but added: “Everything still seems like a sticking point.”

The WNBA’s latest proposal to the union includes increasing the maximum salary to $1 million per season and revenue sharing to increase that figure to more than $1.2 million, according to a person familiar with the matter. The current supermax contract is just under $250,000 per year.

The new proposal would also increase the average annual salary to more than $500,000, while the league minimum is estimated to be more than $225,000, the same person said. Currently the league minimum is just over $66,000.

As part of the proposed revenue-sharing deal, players would see salary increases each year. The terms of revenue sharing were a matter of discussion during the negotiations. The WNBPA recently proposed that players receive 30% of total league and team revenue, more than double what the league is proposing. Athletic reported.

Jackson, who is leading negotiations on behalf of the players, said despite the frustrations, the union is hopeful an agreement can be reached before the deadline.

“It’s hard for us to understand why we’re so far apart on things that we should be closer to and things that should be that easy, but it seems like sometimes the league and the team come into the negotiating room with a mindset that pay equity is optional and pay equity is not optional,” Jackson said.

Jackson emphasized that he was working hard to reach an agreement by January 9.

“Will there be another extension? There should not be another extension,” he said. “There is no need for another extension. We understand their position, their point of view. They also understand our position and point of view.”

Jackson said the WNBA is experiencing record growth in television ratings, attendance and sponsorship, and the only thing that could stop that momentum would be a business shutdown if the parties can’t reach a compromise. Many WNBA stars have already expressed their desire to avoid missed games. The WNBA season starts in May 2026.

Engelbert said in October: league wants Avoid lockout.

“Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Nneka Ogwumike, Napheesa Collier… they all said that and said a walkout would be disastrous,” Jackson said. “Nobody wants to see that happen.”