It’s obvious that the players and the WNBA are still divided on many issues, ranging from revenue shares to team housing. The latter has become a divisive issue since news broke that the WNBA sent the WNBPA a proposal that would not include team housing anymore. The proposal made one thing very clear: if players are to get higher salaries, team owners will want to save money in other areas.
On one hand, if players’ salaries skyrocket, they can afford to pay for their own housing. On the other hand, it is difficult to find good apartments on short notice, especially in big cities. Moreover, many players only spend the WNBA season in the city they play in, which makes it difficult to sign a lease, and many players don’t even know if they will be with the same team for the whole season. Cutting team housing would primarily hurt young players, players on non-guaranteed or low-paying contracts, and international players.
Sue Bird proposed a more creative approach to the housing issue on the December 11 episode of A Touch More, suggesting optionality instead of just deciding that team housing exists either for everyone or no one.
“At the end of the day, I think there should be some sort of moving thing,” Bird said. “Rookie deals get their housing paid for. When players are traded for, or you’re in training camp, or you’re on a 10-day contract or a seven-day contract—usually those players go in hotels anyway—I do think the team should pay for that. They should be in a position to help these young players who don’t have the capital. And then…if you’re making over X, over 500, over 600, over 700, or only on a max deal, whatever it is, then the housing now becomes your responsibility, but the team still has to help find it…Get creative. I want everyone to start getting creative.”
The new deadline is still almost a month away
This may very well be the most important CBA in the WNBA’s history. The league found unprecedented popularity, set viewership and attendance records, and had a ton of money coming in from expansion fees and a new TV deal. With new, lucrative leagues popping up left and right, players are also in a better position than ever to stand firm and use their new leverage.
Considering the importance of this new CBA, it is no surprise that the negotiations are taking a long time. Even with the clear rift between players and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, it is fair to assume that both sides want to get a good deal done and not delay or cancel the 2026 season and lose the precious momentum the league has built over the last few seasons. A CBA that will define this new era of women’s basketball shouldn’t be rushed.
Two deadlines have already come and gone and the two sides agreed to a new extension that allows negotiations to carry on until January 9. That would allow for plenty of time to go through an expansion draft, free agency, and the college draft before the start of the 2026 season. However, the league and the WNBPA might also have to agree to yet another extension before signing a new CBA.