WNBA players union labor collective bargaining deadline nears

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

“We’re a little frustrated with where are are right now, but we are holding to our principles,” Terri Jackson, executive director of the WNBPA, told CNBC Sport in an interview. “We’re staying open to the fact that these negotiations will continue because they must. We will be at the table for as long as they take, and we’re hopeful that there’s enough folks on the team side of things that will start to push these things along.”

Jackson told CNBC Sport she continues to negotiate with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, her counterparty in the talks, on a new labor deal for the league. The CBA, or labor contract, between the WNBA and its players expired on Oct. 31, but the deadline to strike a new agreement was extended to Jan. 9 when the sides failed to reach a deal.

WNBA players are looking for significant pay increases to get a bigger cut of the league’s revenue growth. The WNBA signed a new media rights deal last year that amounted to 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 mention specifics about where the negotiations have stalled, citing her nondisclosure agreement, but added, “Everything seems to still be a sticking point.”

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

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

As part of the proposed revenue sharing agreement, players would see pay increases built in each year. The terms of the revenue sharing have been a point of contention in the talks. The WNBPA recently proposed that players receive 30% of total league and team revenue, or more than double what the league proposed, The Athletic reported.

Jackson, who is spearheading negotiations on behalf of the players, said despite the frustrations, the union remains hopeful that it can get a deal done before the imposed deadline.

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

Jackson emphasized that she’s working hard to get a deal done by Jan. 9.

“Will there be another extension? There shouldn’t be another extension,” said Jackson. “There doesn’t need to be another extension. We understand their position and point of view. They understand our position and point of view.”

As the WNBA enjoys record growth in television ratings, attendance and sponsorship, the one thing that could stall that momentum would be a potential work stoppage if the sides cannot come to terms, said Jackson. Several WNBA stars have already expressed their desire to avoid any missed games. The WNBA season begins in May 2026.

Engelbert said in October that the league wants to avoid a lockout.

“Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Nneka Ogwumike and Napheesa Collier… have all said that and that a work stoppage would be catastrophic. Nobody wants to see that happen,” said Jackson.