By editor 
The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is at a crossroads. With the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) set to expire after the 2025 season, the league and its players are preparing for negotiations that could redefine the future of women’s professional basketball. The WNBA has seen remarkable growth in recent years, with record-breaking viewership, expanded media coverage, and a surge in cultural relevance. However, this success has also highlighted long-standing disparities in player compensation, working conditions, and career opportunities. The upcoming CBA negotiations will determine whether the league can sustain its momentum or risk stagnation.
The Opt-Out: A Strategic Move
The WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) officially opted out of the current CBA shortly after the 2024 season, signaling a unified front in the fight for better terms. Opting out is a strategic maneuver that allows the union to renegotiate the agreement before its expiration, rather than waiting for it to lapse. This decision underscores the players’ determination to secure a CBA that aligns with the league’s financial growth and their contributions to its success.
The current CBA, ratified in 2020, made incremental improvements in player salaries and benefits. However, the WNBA’s landscape has evolved significantly since then. The league has secured lucrative TV deals, expanded to new markets with the addition of three teams (each paying $250 million in expansion fees), and seen a surge in fan engagement. Players argue that these developments justify a more substantial share of the league’s revenue. The opt-out serves as a formal declaration that the status quo is no longer acceptable.
Key Priorities for the WNBPA
The WNBPA has outlined several key priorities for the upcoming negotiations, focusing on fair compensation, improved working conditions, and greater career flexibility.
Fair Compensation and Revenue Sharing
At the heart of the players’ demands is the issue of fair compensation. While the 2020 CBA increased base salaries and introduced performance-based bonuses, the average WNBA salary remains a fraction of what NBA players earn. The WNBPA is pushing for a larger share of league revenue, arguing that players should be compensated commensurate with their role in driving the WNBA’s growth.
The entry of new teams has injected significant capital into the league, and players believe this should translate into higher salaries and benefits. The WNBPA may also seek to revise the salary cap structure to allow for greater financial flexibility, particularly for teams with strong revenue streams. Additionally, the union is likely to advocate for increased revenue-sharing mechanisms, ensuring that players benefit directly from the league’s financial success.
Improved Working Conditions
Beyond salaries, the WNBPA is prioritizing improvements in working conditions, including travel, facilities, and roster management.
- Travel: WNBA players have long highlighted the challenges of league travel, which often involves long flights, multiple connections, and limited access to amenities. The union is seeking to improve travel arrangements, including charter flights for all teams and better accommodations to minimize fatigue and maximize player recovery.
- Facilities: Access to high-quality training facilities is another critical issue. Players want to ensure that all WNBA teams provide state-of-the-art facilities to support their physical and mental well-being. This includes access to sports medicine, nutrition, and recovery services.
- Roster Size: The WNBPA may also push for an increase in roster sizes, which would provide more opportunities for players and alleviate the strain on existing team members. A larger roster could also enhance competitive balance by allowing teams to develop more talent.
Prioritization and Off-Season Opportunities
The current CBA includes a “prioritization clause” that requires players to prioritize the WNBA over overseas playing opportunities. This clause has been controversial, as many players rely on overseas contracts to supplement their WNBA salaries. The WNBPA is likely to seek greater flexibility in this area, allowing players to pursue off-season opportunities without jeopardizing their WNBA careers.
Alternatively, the union may push for higher WNBA salaries that would make overseas play less financially necessary. The creation of alternative leagues like Unrivaled, co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, aims to provide WNBA players with viable offseason earning opportunities without the need to play abroad. This would allow players to stay in the U.S., focus on training, and spend time with family.
Enhanced Benefits and Support
The WNBPA is also advocating for improved benefits and support for players, including family benefits, retirement security, and mental health resources.
- Family Benefits: The union is seeking to expand family benefits, such as childcare assistance and parental leave, to better support player-mothers. Breanna Stewart has been particularly vocal about the challenges faced by WNBA moms and the need for greater support in this area.
- Retirement Benefits: Securing a more robust retirement plan is another key priority. Players want to ensure that they have adequate financial security after their playing careers are over. This includes pension contributions and retirement savings programs.
- Mental Health Support: Recognizing the unique pressures faced by professional athletes, the WNBPA is advocating for increased access to mental health services and resources. This includes counseling, therapy, and wellness programs to support players’ mental and emotional well-being.
The League’s Perspective
While the WNBPA is pushing for significant changes, the WNBA league office also has its own priorities in the CBA negotiations. The league is likely to emphasize the need for financial sustainability and long-term growth.
Balancing Player Demands with Financial Realities
The WNBA has made significant strides in recent years, but it is still a relatively young league that faces ongoing financial challenges. The league will need to carefully balance the players’ demands for increased compensation and benefits with the need to maintain a healthy bottom line.
The league’s initial CBA offer was reportedly met with disappointment by the players, who felt it did not adequately reflect the league’s growth and their contributions. This suggests that the negotiations could be contentious, with both sides needing to make concessions to reach an agreement. The league may argue that some of the players’ demands could strain the league’s finances, particularly for smaller-market teams.
Promoting Long-Term Growth and Sustainability
The WNBA is committed to promoting the long-term growth and sustainability of the league. This includes investing in marketing and promotion, expanding the league’s reach, and attracting new fans. The league may argue that some of the players’ demands could divert resources away from key growth initiatives, such as youth development programs, international expansion, and media partnerships.
Addressing Competitive Balance
The league may also seek to address issues related to competitive balance in the new CBA. The emergence of “superteams,” such as the New York Liberty, has raised concerns about the potential for a lack of parity in the league. The league may explore mechanisms to promote greater competitive balance, such as adjustments to the salary cap or changes to the draft lottery.
The Shadow of a Lockout
With the current CBA set to expire after the 2025 season, there is a real possibility of a lockout if the league and the WNBPA cannot reach an agreement. A lockout would be detrimental to both sides, disrupting the season, alienating fans, and potentially damaging the league’s long-term prospects.
Both the league and the players have expressed a desire to avoid a lockout, but the possibility remains if negotiations become too acrimonious. The WNBPA has demonstrated a willingness to take a strong stance, as evidenced by their decision to opt out of the current CBA. The league, meanwhile, will need to balance its financial concerns with the need to keep its players happy and engaged.
Breanna Stewart: A Key Voice in the Negotiations
Breanna Stewart, a star player for the New York Liberty and a prominent voice in the WNBPA, is expected to play a key role in the CBA negotiations. Stewart has been actively involved in advocating for player rights and has been outspoken about the need for greater equity in the WNBA. Her experience as a two-time WNBA champion, MVP, and Olympic gold medalist gives her significant credibility and influence in the negotiations.
Stewart has emphasized that the players are “not going to settle for anything” less than what they deserve. She has also highlighted the importance of addressing issues such as travel, facilities, and family benefits. Her leadership and advocacy will be crucial in ensuring that the players’ voices are heard and that their priorities are addressed in the new CBA.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment for the WNBA
The upcoming CBA negotiations represent a defining moment for the WNBA. The league is experiencing unprecedented growth and popularity, and the players are eager to capitalize on this momentum by securing a CBA that reflects their value and contribution.
The negotiations will be complex and challenging, with both the league and the WNBPA having their own priorities and concerns. However, both sides have a strong incentive to reach an agreement that avoids a lockout and sets the WNBA on a path to continued success. The outcome of these negotiations will not only shape the future of the WNBA but will also serve as a model for other women’s professional sports leagues around the world. The WNBA stands at a pivotal juncture, and the decisions made in these negotiations will determine whether the league can sustain its momentum or risk stagnation. The players’ demands for fair compensation, improved working conditions, and greater career flexibility are essential steps toward achieving true equity in women’s professional sports.