With the January 9 deadline now just less than 48 hours away, the silence surrounding the WNBA’s labor talks is growing louder by the hour. As the clock winds down on the current CBA (collective bargaining agreement), pressure is mounting on the WNBA Commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, as the players’ union has chosen not to say a word, but to let an image do the talking.

In a subtle move, the WNBPA has quietly changed its Instagram profile picture to an hourglass, sending a message to the league’s leadership that patience inside the bargaining room is wearing thin. With no response yet from the WNBA to a proposal submitted nearly two weeks ago, one that includes a demand for roughly 30% of gross league revenue and a proposed salary cap of approximately $10.5 million, according to multiple reports, the message is becoming harder to ignore.

While the league has put forward a proposal that would boost player salaries on the surface, with maximum contracts exceeding $1.3 million in the first year, average pay climbing past $530,000, and minimum salaries crossing $250,000 under an uncapped revenue-sharing structure. But from the union’s perspective, those figures still don’t reflect the true value of the players.

Even with the increases, the model would leave them receiving under 15% of the league’s overall revenue, well short of their demand.

Though the players’ union remains firm on its ask, league officials have claimed that such payouts would result in significant long-term losses, valued at $700 million, which would endanger the league’s financial health and exceed the combined losses of the league and its teams during its first 29 seasons, a claim labelled as ‘absolutely false’ by the WNBPA.

And that divide remains unresolved, with no further response yet on the table. But the countdown has effectively begun, not just toward a deadline, but toward a moment that would define the future of this league and its players.

The clock is ticking on Cathy Engelbert as the WNBPA holds its stand

As negotiations continue to stall, WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson has made it clear that the players’ resistance isn’t about flashy salary figures; it’s about what those numbers truly represent within the league’s financial system. Responding to questions about the state of bargaining, Jackson issued a firm statement to USA TODAY, pushing back on how the league has framed its proposals.

“The players know the difference between doing business and creating clickbait. They are focused on the system. Despite what the league and the teams are trying to do, the players are not confused by the numbers. The players want a meaningful share of the revenue they are creating. They want to be properly valued in these negotiations and this next CBA. They do not want to be paid last with only a fraction of the dollars left over.”

Top Stories

Bill Cowher’s Strong Message to Steelers on Firing Mike Tomlin After HC’s Blunt Playoff Message

Alex Pereira Confirms Major Tracy Cortez Relationship Status Update After Viral Marriage Proposal Clip

Andy Reid Fires Coach In Attempt to Rebuild Staff After Receiving HC Requests For Chiefs’ Coordinators

Who Are the Announcers, Referees, & Sideline Reporters for Ole Miss vs Miami? Everything You Need to Know for Fiesta Bowl

Congratulations Pour In After USA Basketball Announces Female Athlete of the Year

Meet Mario Cristobal’s Wife Jessica: All About Former Miss Florida World Winner and Miami Hurricanes’ HC’s Partner

While she didn’t address any specific offer, her message underscored a central concern for the union: even an updated salary structure means little if players remain at the bottom of the revenue chain.

“The players would not have opted out of the 2020 CBA with a fixed salary system giving them less than 10% of the revenue that their labor drives, only to agree to a salary system that is arguably tied to revenue but now gives them less than 15%.”

So far, the league’s growth hasn’t reflected the same increase in its players’ salaries and benefits. So even with the deadline rapidly approaching, there is no space for a compromise if it means settling for a deal that falls short of that principle.

However, the players can still play the strike card, but the league could respond with a complete lockout; in either scenario, the result would be a work stoppage that would affect the league operations and the 2026 season. The question now is whether Cathy Engelbert can pull off a buzzer-beater agreement or allow the negotiations to run out of time.