The WNBA has granted a 30-day extension to players for further discussions on a new collective bargaining agreement, as reported by anonymous sources to The Associated Press on Tuesday evening. The current agreement is set to expire on Friday, with tensions escalating in recent weeks as negotiations continue towards a new deal. The league is open to extending the deadline to allow more time for both parties to reach a potentially groundbreaking agreement, particularly concerning player salaries.
In 2019, when the previous CBA expired, an extension was granted for 60 days before the current agreement was ratified in January 2020. The acceptance of this new extension by the players’ union remains uncertain. ESPN initially reported the extension offer, while WNBPA senior adviser and legal counsel Erin D. Drake emphasized in a podcast on The Athletic that reaching a deal by Friday would require mutual efforts.
The league countered suggestions of bad faith by issuing a statement, urging the Players Association to focus on constructive engagement rather than public misinformation. Recent meetings between the parties, including one in New York earlier this month, have taken place to progress negotiations, with details kept confidential.
Players opted out of the current CBA last year to seek improvements in revenue sharing, salaries, benefits, and the salary cap. Despite the WNBA’s offers thus far falling short of player expectations, both the league and players aim for a transformative agreement with substantial increases in salaries and benefits.
[Video: Breaking down all the drama in the WNBA… in 60 seconds]
Amid heightened tensions between the league and players, CBC Sports explains the ongoing developments in the WNBA negotiations.