WNBA and players' union fail to reach new CBA, negotiations continue without extension

WNBA and its players' union couldn’t agree to a new collective bargaining agreement by the Friday night deadline, and now the league enters a "status-quo" period with no new extension reached.

Negotiations will continue with the current CBA still in effect.

The league and the players had two previous extensions, with the most recent expiring Friday night. The sides have met several times this week, but are still far apart on many key issues, including salary structure and revenue sharing.

"Despite demonstrating our willingness to compromise in order to get a deal done, the WNBA and its teams have failed to meet us at the table with the same spirit and seriousness,' the union said in a statement. "Instead, they have remained committed to undervaluing player contributions, dismissing player concerns, and running out the clock."

If a new CBA isn't agreed upon soon, it could delay the start of the 2026 season. It's already delayed the expansion draft for Toronto and Portland.

"As the league experiences a pivotal time of unprecedented popularity and growth, we recognize the importance of building upon that momentum," the WNBA said in a statement issued after the deadline had passed. "Our priority is a deal that significantly increases player salaries, enhances the overall player experience, and supports the long-term growth of the league for current and future generations of players and fans."

The last CBA was announced in the middle of January 2020, a month after it had been agreed to. It could easily take two months from when a new CBA is reached to get to the start of free agency, which was supposed to begin Sunday.

The WNBA, under U.S. labour law, has a status-quo obligation to allow teams to send out qualifying