A day after WNBPA vice president Breanna Stewart said the current CBA talks “aren’t really working,” WNBA players overwhelmingly voted to authorize their union’s executive committee to call a strike if necessary. The move prompted the league to issue a firm official statement, pushing back on the union’s characterization of negotiations.

In the statement, the league stated, “We are aware that the players have voted to authorize the WNBPA Executive Committee to call a strike if the Executive Committee decides to take that step in the future. While we acknowledge the players’ right to authorize a future work stoppage, we strongly disagree with the WNBPA’s characterization of the current state of negotiations, which fundamentally misrepresents the ongoing discussions taking place at the bargaining table.

“It is difficult to understand claims that the league is resistant to change, particularly given that we are proposing numerous CBA modifications, including significant immediate salary increases and a new uncapped revenue-sharing model that would ensure continued salary growth tied to revenue growth.”

The league also stressed that it remains committed to reaching a new agreement quickly, framing its approach as both urgent and good-faith.

According to the WNBA, its proposals are designed not only to raise player pay and improve benefits in the short term, but also to protect the league’s long-term growth and sustainability for future generations of players.

And while they have acknowledged the players’ right to authorise a future work stoppage, the WNBA emphasised that it is actively proposing numerous modifications, including immediate salary increases of roughly 15%.

Still, their different public positions make it clear that the WNBPA and the WNBA remain far from an agreement as the CBA deadline continues to loom.

The negotiations have been ongoing for over a year, with the latest deadline for reaching an agreement set for January 9th. Union officials have described the strike authorization as a strategic tool rather than an immediate escalation, noting that 93% of eligible players participated in the vote, with 98% approving the measure, an unusually strong show of unity at this stage of talks.

However, with almost 3 more weeks to find a common ground, if the league and the union fail to finalise a deal, or if the players go on a strike, it would delay the WNBA expansion draft and the beginning of free agency, where more than 100 players will be required to decide their next move, which usually starts in late January.

Where the WNBA and WNBPA Stand in Ongoing CBA Negotiations

While the strike authorization was not a formal announcement of a work stoppage, it served as a clear display of unity from players as the talks continue over pay, benefits, and long-term protections. The gap remains significant. The league has proposed a structure that would guarantee a $1 million base salary for max players, with projected revenue sharing pushing total earnings beyond $1.2 million by 2026, roughly 15% of league revenue. According to people familiar with the negotiations, that figure could rise to approximately $1.3 million through revenue sharing, with the potential to approach $2 million over the life of the agreement.

Beyond the headline-grabbing revenue sharing dispute, where the WNBPA seeks 29-34% compared to the league’s proposed ~15%—players are pushing for significant improvements in several quality-of-life and structural areas that have long been pain points under the current CBA. League sources have indicated that average salaries would rise to more than $530,000 in 2026, up from roughly $120,000 now, while minimum salaries could increase from about $67,000 to more than $250,000 in the first year of a new deal.

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These include:

• Expanded benefits: Enhanced retirement pensions, better family planning and maternity support (including fertility treatments and childcare), and improved health insurance for current and retired players.
• Calendar and roster changes: Adjustments to the season schedule to reduce overseas play demands, larger roster sizes to provide more job security, and modifications to the “core” designation (similar to the NFL’s franchise tag, which restricts free agency).
• Working conditions: Greater protections and resources, addressing longstanding issues that players describe as “draconian provisions” restricting them for nearly three decades.

The growing influence of alternative leagues, Project B, and Unrivaled, complicates matters further as well. The rise of Unrivaled, a 3×3 tournament, which gives the WNBA players an alternative during the offseason to stay and play in the States, is now entering its second season and expanding with two additional teams.

While Unrivaled operates in the offseason, it is still viewed as a competitor, particularly given that it offers players salaries higher than the current WNBA salaries, which range from a rookie minimum of roughly $66,000 to supermax contracts approaching $250,000.

Reports indicate that no player in the 2025 Unrivaled season earned less than six figures, further shifting the leverage dynamic in ongoing CBA talks.

As per reports, in the 2025 season of this tournament, no player made less than 6 figures.

The emergence of Project B has raised the stakes even further! According to Front Office Sports, the proposed 5-on-5 global league is offering seven-figure salaries starting at $2 million annually, with multi-year deals reaching eight figures and equity included for players.

While neither Unrivaled nor Project B directly replaces the WNBA, their rapid rise has given the players an alternative, which could further impact the importance of the WNBA in the future. And if that’s something the league wants to avoid, they will have to listen to their players.