WNBA, union conduct 2nd straight day of marathon CBA talks

New York – After several days of lengthy negotiations between the WNBA and its players union, WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike He told reporters late Wednesday that players are “feeling the movement” in collective bargaining talks and are “committed to staying at the table.”

With both sides left without a new deal, the term sheet must now be completed two days before the target date given to the union by the league to avoid scheduling impacts for the 2026 season.

“Ultimately, we want a season,” Ogwumike told reporters. “We want to play. We’ve heard that from the other side, too. We need to see a much stronger demonstration of that as we continue these negotiations.”

According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the salary cap in the league’s latest proposal starts at $6.2 million (up from previously reported numbers of $5.75 million and $1.5 million in 2025), and it will continue to rise over the life of the deal. The average player compensation is projected to reach $570,000 in Year 1 and $850,000 in Year 6, while maximum compensation will reach more than $1.3 million in Year 1 and nearly $2 million in Year 6.

“Our proposal on the table is truly a historic and transformative deal for these players,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told reporters Thursday morning. “We’re proud of this agreement. I think it’s a huge benefit for the players while balancing it with the health of the league. So we’re going to continue to work really hard, and we’ve got to get a deal done.”

couple connecticut sun Team President and Labor Relations Committee Member Jennifer Rizzotti: “As a former player, I don’t know that I ever thought I would see the day when such a transformational deal would be offered to these players and I’m proud of that.”

The WNBA has proposed that players will receive an average of more than 70% of net revenue (revenue after expenses are deducted). The players’ union previously sought 26% of gross revenue (revenue before expenses) over the lifetime of the agreement, with a salary cap of approximately $9.5 million in Year 1 of the deal, but it is unknown where its current proposals stand.

The two sides remain far apart over what a new revenue sharing system should look like, while the future of chief designation, team-provided housing and more are also being negotiated. In all, eight resolutions have been exchanged over the past two days, with the parties meeting for about 12 hours from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning and again for about 11 hours from Wednesday afternoon to early Thursday.

“Being able to be in the room, being able to exchange proposals, we’re feeling the buzz,” Ogwumike said. “We’re sticking to the process. That’s something we’ve stayed true to from the beginning, so making sure that we stick to that process and that our unity remains strong and that obviously we remain steadfast in representing ourselves in these negotiations is kind of where we are right now.”

Ogwumike and the three Executive Committee members who are attending the individual meetings – Vice President Breanna Stewart And Alisha ClarkAlso the Treasurer briana turner –Spoke to reporters shortly before turning in for the night at 11:30 p.m. ET. League and union staff have stayed to continue negotiations, and they plan to continue bargaining Thursday.

The union has said it considers the March 10 deadline provided by the league a negotiating tactic, while the league has pointed to potential business and scheduling impacts if negotiations go on longer.

“We have never really considered it as a timeline that is worth prioritizing on our part because we have always been negotiating in good faith,” Ogwumike said. “I would say that we have experienced peace in the conversation [from the other side] And we want to play, and that’s why we all came out here.

“I think the league has its own priorities, and we’ve read a lot of things about deadlines, and there have been some deadlines that have come up, but for us, we’re trying to make a good deal, and we want to play this season. So, to me, that’s where we’re at.”

Once the deal is made, it must be approved — which could take several weeks — and then the league must hold a two-team expansion draft, free agency for more than 100 players and a college draft, which is currently scheduled for April 13.

Training camps begin April 19 and the first regular season game is scheduled for May 8.

“I think time is of the essence to get this deal done,” Rizzotti said, “and that’s what we’re working toward.”