WNBA, union conduct 2nd straight day of marathon CBA talks - ESPN

NEW YORK — Following back-to-back days of prolonged negotiations between the WNBA and its players' union, WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike told reporters late Wednesday that the players are «feeling movement» in collective bargaining talks and are «committed to being at the table.»

The two sides remain without a new deal, now going on two days past the target date the league gave the union for when a term sheet should be completed to avoid scheduling impacts for the 2026 season.

«At the end of the day, we want a season,» Ogwumike told reporters. «We want to play. We've heard that from the other side as well. We need to see a more robust demonstration of that as we continue on in these negotiations.»

According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the league's latest proposal featured a salary cap starting at $6.2 million (up from a previously reported number of $5.75 million and $1.5 million in 2025), and that will continue to grow over the life of the deal. The average player compensation is projected to reach $570,000 in Year 1 and $850,000 in Year 6, while the maximum compensation would come in at over $1.3 million in Year 1 and nearly $2 million in Year 6.

«Our proposal on the table is a really historic and transformational deal for these players,» WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert told reporters early Thursday. «We're proud of the deal we have on the table. I think it's huge gains for the players, while balancing that with the health of the league. So we'll just continue to work really hard, and we've got to get a deal done.»

Added Connecticut Sun team president and labor relations committee member Jennifer Rizzotti: «As a former player, I don't know that I ever thought I would see the day that such a