The WNBA has grown very fast in the last few years. The league has more fans, more attention and more money coming in. But now it has reached a point where the league and the players cannot agree on a new contract. This contract is called the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Without it, the future of the 2026 season is uncertain. Both sides say they want to fix things. But there is still a lot to sort out.
A lockout might happen if the league and the players fail to agree on a new deal. The current deal ends on October thirty one, twenty twenty five. If they do not reach a new deal by then, it does not instantly mean a lockout. They can extend the current deal for more time. The league is under pressure because two new teams will join in twenty twenty six.
A reporter said both sides are very unlikely to settle things before the original deadline. This made people even more worried. The head of the players association, Nneka Ogwumike, said nobody wants a lockout. She said both sides want a deal that feels fair. Soon after, both sides agreed to add thirty more days to talk. The new deadline is now November thirty.
The league said it expected talks to be further along. The players said they are united and will keep pushing for a deal that respects their value. The league’s latest offer includes revenue sharing and higher salaries. The highest salary could go above one point one million dollars for more than one player on each team. The smallest salary would be above two hundred twenty thousand. The average salary would be more than four hundred sixty thousand.
The players want more than just higher pay. They want the structure of the league to change. They want a system where they earn a share of the league’s total revenue, just like the NBA. They also want better retirement plans, better support for players with children, and better family planning options. They want a deal that grows as the league grows.
Right now, the players earn less than seven percent of basketball related income. In the NBA, players get about half. The players have asked the league to show the revenue numbers, but the league has not shared the data. This has caused trust issues. One league source said the problem is that the players are called greedy, but they still are not shown the numbers.
The league’s new proposal changes the salary cap, but the players say it still does not connect to the growth of the business. They feel it looks good on paper but does not solve the main issue. They say the system still undervalues them. With the new deadline coming up soon, both sides still seem far apart on this core issue.
The owners want something too. They want players to put the WNBA first. Right now, many players go overseas or join other leagues in the offseason. Owners say prioritizing the WNBA will help the league’s image. There are rules already that force players to return by certain dates. If they are late, they can be suspended for the full season. Owners do not want to ban players from other leagues completely, but they want players to show stronger commitment.
The owners also have a reason to settle things quickly. The league is finally growing and losing a season would cost a lot. Still, there is a small chance the WNBA season could be canceled if talks fall apart. The season usually starts in late May, but before that, the league needs to hold an expansion draft, free agency, and the rookie draft. Delays make everything harder.
The WNBA has never had a lockout or a work stoppage before. A lockout means the owners stop players from working until a deal is reached. A strike means the players refuse to work until they get a deal they accept.
For now, both sides say they want to reach an agreement. But with big issues on the table, the future of the league depends on how these next talks go.