How much CBA extension has WNBA offered to WNBPA? Everything that you need to know about ongoing negotiations

The WNBA and the WNBPA (Women’s National Basketball Players Association) have been involved in a bitter disagreement for over a year now. In October 2024, the players of the association revealed their intention to boycott the current CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) and opt out of it.

This is primarily due to the revenue-sharing model. While there has been no common ground of agreement for both parties, the current CBA will expire on Friday, October 31, 2025. The WNBA, now, has offered a 30-day extension on the CBA for both parties to negotiate a new agreement.

WNBA offers WNBPA 30-day extension on current CBA

This is not the first time the WNBA has offered an extension to the WNBPA to work out on a new CBA. In 2019, a 60-day extension was announced to decide on a new deal in 2020.

It is happening again. With a 30-day extension offered by the WNBA, the league hopes to work out a new CBA with the players’ union.

The talks for an extension have been there for some time now. In a recent appearance, the WNBA commissioner, Cathay Engelbert, had stated, “Last time, when I was only a couple of days on the job, we got to an extension and got a deal done that was progressive at the time. So again, I feel confident that we can get a deal done, but if not, I think we could do an extension."

This is now turning out to be true as the WNBA offered the extension to the players’ union.

However, the players have not responded yet, and it is to be seen if an extension really works out.The senior advisor and legal counsel of the WNBPA, Erin D. Drake, believed that a negotiation could not have been reached by Friday, October 31, 2025. The day when the current CBA expires. During her appearance at the Athletics’ “No Offseason” Podcast, she stated, “We have worked hard to be able to say on Friday, we did it.

Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen.” If the players share the same thought process like their legal advisor, they are likely to accept the extension offer.

What is the ongoing negotiation between WNBA and WNBPA about?

The ongoing dispute between the WNBA and the WNBPA is basically about the revenue-sharing model. Under the current CBA, the salaries of the players increase at a fixed rate of 3% per year. However, their current demand is that the salaries increase as the business grows.

As per reports, the athletes receive only 9% of the revenue generated by the league. Players are not satisfied with the current state and demand a change in the pay structure.

What if the extension fails?

The extension failure will bring in hurdles not just for the league but for the players as well. If the extension fails or passes by without any result, it will lead to a work stoppage. All sorts of league business will cease. The players won’t be able to access any practice or training facilities either. However, the negotiations will continue. Even though there has been no work stoppage to date, however, the league was close to facing it in 2003.

There was no deal worked out till the month of April. An ultimatum from the then-NBA commissioner, David Stern, pushed the parties to work out a deal by April 18. Also Read: James Harden vs Stephen Curry net worth: Comparing LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors stars’ wealth and assets