The WNBA Players Association left its latest in-person session with league owners in great displeasure and disappointment following failed negotiations. The WNBA Players Association met owners and league leadership in New York City on February 2 as collective bargaining talks remain stalled, with the 2026 season scheduled to begin on May 8.
WNBA Players Association Meeting: Why it Happened Now
This WNBA Players Association meeting was arranged to break a stalemate that has dragged on for weeks. According to reports, the union has been waiting for a response to a proposal it sent around Christmas, including a request for 30% of the league’s gross revenue to be shared with players.
The current labor status quo period has already paused key offseason business, including early stages of free agency, and delayed the expansion draft tied to new teams.
What the WNBA Players Association is Demanding
The WNBA Players Association position, based on multiple reports, centers on three pillars:
- Revenue sharing on gross income: The union proposal cited by multiple reports includes 30% of gross revenue.
- A major salary structure jump: the players are seeking a $10.5 million team salary cap, while league proposals and reporting vary on the alternative numbers.
- Quality-of-work standards and benefits: reports outline issues including housing, retirement benefits, and professional standards such as facilities and staffing.
What Came Out of the Meeting
The reported outcome was nothing short of a breakthrough. The meeting lasted roughly three hours and included league officials, owners, and around 40 players.
The core frustration is also specific. The league acknowledged it did not have a proposal prepared at the start of the meeting, which “set the tone” for the conversation.
We similarly note that negotiations have lacked traction and that the union is waiting for a formal response to its proposal.
Why Talks Are Stuck
The league’s position includes an offer that would guarantee a $1 million max base salary in 2026, potentially rising to $1.3 million through revenue sharing.
The problem is that both sides appear to disagree on the size of the pie and how it should be calculated. Revenue sharing is the main sticking point, with the players pushing for a much larger share while owners are hesitant, citing concerns that the union model would produce heavy losses and threaten the league’s stability.
That tension is why the WNBA Players Association is refusing to treat May 8 as a soft deadline if the deal is not good enough.
Potential Consequences if Demands Are Not Met
A strike is still part of the conversation. SB Nation reported that the WNBA Players Association has made clear a work stoppage remains an option if negotiations do not move.
The immediate operational consequences are already visible:
- Free agency processes have been halted through a moratorium period, per AP.
- Expansion planning has been impacted, with the expansion draft for Toronto and Portland delayed.
- The season itself could be delayed if no agreement is reached soon, even though the league has released a schedule beginning May 8.
If talks continue to stall, the WNBA Players Association leverage increases because the league cannot afford uncertainty heading into a 30th season launch.
What Happens Next
The biggest missing piece in all of this is a written league counterproposal. Until the WNBA Players Association receives one, progress will remain a talking point rather than a timeline.
With less than 100 days until the scheduled tip-off, the meeting in New York helped clarify positions, but it did not close the gap. The next round will determine whether both sides are negotiating toward a deal, or merely managing the optics of a dispute that is heading toward disruption.
