The clock struck midnight on Friday, and the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) failed to reach an agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
While the deadline for a new deal or extension has passed, negotiations are far from over. In a move to keep the wheels turning without chaos, sources confirm that both sides have agreed to a moratorium on league business.
Here is everything you need to know about the current “bitter impasse” and what comes next for the W.
🛑 What is the Moratorium?
With the expiration of the old CBA, the league and the union have hit the pause button on the initial stages of free agency.
The Hold: The moratorium halts teams from delivering qualifying offers and “core” designations to players.
The Reason: Technically, teams could have started sending offers as soon as Sunday under the old rules. However, with virtually every veteran player currently a free agent, no one wants to sign contracts based on the old financial system when a massive pay hike is anticipated in the new deal.
💰 The Sticking Point: Net vs. Gross
While both sides admit they are working toward a “transformational” deal, the gap between them remains significant. The primary conflict centers on revenue sharing models.
The League’s Proposal:
Revenue Share: 70% of net revenue.
Salary Cap: $5 million in Year 1 (growing with revenue).
Salaries: Max salaries starting above $1.3 million; average salaries rising to over $530,000.
Perspective: The league views this as a historic increase, noting the 2025 cap was only $1.5 million with a supermax of roughly $249,000.
The Union’s Counter:
Revenue Share: Roughly 30% of gross revenue.
Salary Cap: Recently proposed a cap closer to $10.5 million (down from an initial $12.5 million ask).
Salaries: Seeking an average player salary of nearly $1 million.
⚖️ The Current Mood: “Status Quo”
We are now in a period known as “status quo.” This means the working conditions of the expired CBA remain in place while talks continue.
However, the tone has become sharp. The WNBPA released a statement accusing the league of “undervaluing player contributions” and “running out the clock.” Conversely, the WNBA maintains that their offer significantly enhances the player experience and supports long-term growth
While the expiration opens the door for potential work stoppages (a strike or a lockout), sources indicate the league is not considering locking out the players at this time.
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