WNBA, Players Union Near Deadline Without New CBA Agreement

The WNBA and its players' union are unlikely to finalize a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) by the October 31 deadline, with an extension probable to prevent an immediate work stoppage. Players seek a transformational deal addressing revenue sharing, larger rosters, improved benefits, and standardized workplace policies to reflect the league's recent growth, including a new $2.2 billion media rights deal and upcoming expansions. The league's perceived lack of urgency has frustrated players, who publicly expressed dissatisfaction during All-Star Weekend, while negotiations remain stalled over key issues like revenue classification and compensation. Expansion plans for new franchises in Toronto, Portland, Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia complicate timing, as expansion drafts and free agency depend on the new CBA. While league officials remain cautiously optimistic, players such as WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson emphasize fans' support for a fair and modernized agreement. If no deal is reached soon, options include a CBA extension or a potential work stoppage, a scenario the WNBA has never previously encountered.