The WNBA and its players union are in the final stages of negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) ahead of a March 10 deadline, which has been set to ensure the season starts on time. The league sent its proposal to the union a day after receiving one from the players, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
Key Takeaways
The WNBA and its players union are negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) ahead of a March 10 deadline to start the season on time. Revenue sharing remains the key sticking point between the two sides. Caitlin Clark and Breanna Stewart have advocated for face-to-face negotiations to resolve the issue promptly.
- WNBA sends CBA proposal to players union, responding to their offer received a day prior
- Key sticking point is revenue sharing, with players seeking 26% of gross revenue and league offering over 70% of net revenue
- Players advocate for face-to-face negotiations instead of exchanging proposals
- Breanna Stewart will skip FIBA World Cup qualifier tournament to focus on CBA negotiations
- If a deal is reached by March 10, expansion draft and free agency processes would follow
The key sticking point in these negotiations is revenue sharing. The players' previous proposal sought an average of 26% of gross revenue over the course of the CBA, starting at 25% in the first year. Meanwhile, the WNBA has offered more than 70% of net revenue, with that percentage increasing as the league continues to grow.
Caitlin Clark, speaking from USA Basketball training camp, and union vice president Breanna Stewart have both advocated for face-to-face negotiations instead of exchanging proposals. "I don't understand why we don't just get in a room and iron it out and shake hands," Clark said. "That's how business is." Stewart agreed, stating that she would be available for in-person negotiations and would skip the FIBA World Cup qualifier tournament to focus on these discussions.
If a labor deal is reached by March 10, it would likely be signed by the end of the month. According to a timetable obtained by AP News, this would allow for an expansion draft for new franchises in Portland and Toronto between April 1-6, followed by free agency processes starting on April 7.
Stewart emphasized the importance of finding the right numbers that reflect both sides' interests. "We want the deal to be done. We want to have the season," she said. "But even if we do [reach a resolution], it's like these other things that need to happen need a moment."
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.