The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement will expire in the next 17 days. If the league fails to either extend the existing 2020 agreement or agree on the terms with the WNBPA, we are set to witness a lockout in the W. Amidst all of this, players are pretty much frustrated with their terms not coming close in these ongoing negotiations.
Minnesota Lynx’s Courtney Williams has come up with a ‘mind-boggling’ allegation, saying that the WNBA wants to “pay themselves first” while leaving 30 per cent revenue for the players to split with the league. In conversation with her fellow teammate, Natisha Hiedeman on the Studbudz stream, Williams said,
“The league want to pay themselves first, before they pay us… and whatever is left, they want us to split that with them, which leaves less than 15 percent (of revenue) for the players.”
Whatever Williams is saying, the figures appear to be consistent. The WNBA has proposed revenue sharing at 15% that would decrease over the life of a new CBA. This has left the players’ union rattled, despite the league’s proposed salaries that could exceed $1 million. Williams argues that Napheesa Collier, an All-WNBA forward, would still be making less money than the head coaches in the league.
“They still want to pay coaches more than they pay an A’ja Wilson or a Napheesa Collier,” Williams said. “They want to pay the coaches and all their expenses first.”
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Time is ticking quickly as the 2020 CBA expires on January 9. The league’s calendar still seems to be affected by the slow-moving talks, as the incoming new teams, Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, still don’t know when an expansion draft will be held to decide their rosters. For now, the WNBPA has authorized it’s executive committee to call for a strike when deemed necessary.
WNBA Players May Call For a Strike if The CBA Negotiations Continue to be Stalled
WNBA players have officially authorized the Women’s National Basketball Players Association’s Executive Committee to call a strike if collective bargaining agreement negotiations remain at a standstill. This decisive move comes after a historic vote with 93% participation and 98% in favor of the authorization, occurring less than a month before the current CBA is set to expire on Jan. 9, 2026. In a statement, the WNBPA noted that “the players have spoken” and characterized the decision as an “unavoidable response to the state of negotiations with the WNBA and its teams.”
The tension between the two sides has led to a public exchange over the sincerity of the discussions. New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart, a vice president of the union, suggested that negotiations are heading toward a “standoff” because “what we’re doing right now isn’t really working.” She emphasized the players’ resolve, stating,
“If we’re not going to be valued the way that we know we should be… then we’re just not going to do something that doesn’t make sense for us.”
However, the WNBA maintains it has negotiated in good faith, claiming the union’s account “fundamentally misrepresents” the talks and noting that they have proposed “significant immediate salary increases and a new uncapped revenue-sharing model.”
The primary points of contention involve revenue sharing and salary structures, with the league reportedly offering a 15% share while the union seeks 30%. A strike would be unprecedented, as the WNBA has never experienced a work stoppage in its 29-year history, though a potential strike threatens to delay or cancel the 2026 season.
Despite the current impasse, the league says it remains “steadfast in its commitment to reaching an agreement as soon as possible” to ensure the long-term growth of the game and the capacity to serve future generations of players.
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