The WNBA submitted a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) proposal to the players Friday, a potential sign that the protracted negotiations for a new deal could come to an end soon. The details of the latest proposal from the league have not been widely shared.
In an interview with the Associated Press Friday, WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike revealed a surprising silver lining to the months-long negotiation process: the players appear more connected than ever. Ogwumike told the news outlet that the continuing conversations have allowed her and other members of the union board to reach out to their fellow players and find out what they really think and feel.
In fact, Ogwumike was in Nashville Thursday and visited the athletes — many of whom are also on WNBA rosters — who are playing in the fifth season of Athletes Unlimited in the city. This comes after a trip to Miami, where another cohort of WNBA players are participating in Unrivaled.
“I actually like the fact that we’ve had these six weeks now, still waiting for a proposal. It’s given us the gift of time,” she explained. “And so, you know, in December, after the strike authorization vote, we were able to meet in Miami and talk to players.”
The players of the WNBA want to play basketball
Ogwumike also insisted that the players are focused on one ultimate goal: playing basketball in the WNBA this season. Though she hinted at the possibility the season may not begin when it typically does, Ogwumike offered a bit of reassurance. "I know our players 100 per cent want to play this year," she added. "We want a season.
The 2026 WNBA season is meant to begin on May 8, which means the draft would take place soon after March Madness, and training camps would begin across the country in April. Preseason games would likely dominate the first week of May.
But all of that remains in jeopardy without a signed CBA. While the league is currently in a state of status quo and largely operating on the terms of the 2020 CBA, that does not extend to "league business" — which includes expansion drafts for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, free agency for the majority of the league, and the 2026 draft to bring in a new group of rookies.
While revenue sharing remains the largest issue to work out between the two sides, there are other concerns as well. These include housing and health benefits, travel arrangements, and maternity and childcare concerns.