WNBA CBA deadline discussed on WSF red carpet
While walking the Women’s Sports Foundation’s red carpet, these former players and analysts discuss the WNBA CBA’s October 31st deadline.
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With the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) set to expire on October 31st, the WNBA has reportedly proposed an extension to the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) to continue negotiations.
On Tuesday, October 28, ESPN reported that the WNBA proposed a 30-day extension to the current CBA to give both teams more time to negotiate a new agreement. If the players’ union agrees, the extension would delay work stoppages that could result from an owner lockout or player strike.
Earlier this month, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert hinted at the possibility of an extension during her annual press conference before the 2025 WNBA Finals, saying, “We have extended deadlines in the past.”
The league and players’ union previously agreed to a 60-day extension in 2019, three days before the last CBA was set to expire on October 31, 2019. Subsequently, a new agreement was signed in relation to the current CBA on January 14, 2020, which became effective three days later on January 17, 2020.
Engelbert, who took over as WNBA commissioner in July 2019, said, “Last time, just a few days after I took office, we were able to reach an extension, and we were able to sign a contract that was advanced at the time.So, I’m confident again that we can sign a contract, but if not, I think we can extend it.”
It remains to be seen whether the players will agree to an extension, as negotiations between the two sides remain at an impasse. ESPN reported that the players would only consider an extension “under the right circumstances,” but noted players currently feel “those circumstances do not exist yet.”
WNBPA Senior Counsel and General Counsel Erin D. Drake appeared on The Athletic’s “No Offseason” podcast earlier Tuesday and said she “doesn’t expect” a new contract to be agreed to by Friday. “We’ve been working hard to be able to say we made it on Friday. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen,” Drake said.
The main issues in the ongoing CBA negotiations are revenue sharing and salary structure expansion. Players are seeking a revenue-sharing model that guarantees salary increases with the league, but the WNBA is said to be offering a fixed-salary system and a capped revenue-sharing plan.
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