WNBA, Players Association agree to extend CBA deadline again, to January 2026

November 30, 2025

The WNBA and the WNBA Players Association agreed to a second extension in collective bargaining negotiations, according to a WNBA statement.

“The WNBA and WNBPA have agreed to extend the current CBA through January 9, 2026, with either party having the option to terminate the extension with 48 hours’ advance notice,” the statement read. “The WNBA and WNBPA are continuing to work toward a new agreement.”

The sides exchanged updated proposals ahead of the holiday and continued meetings over the weekend, a league source told Yahoo Sports.

The league recently proposed a deal featuring a maximum salary of around $1.1 million when combining the base supermax salary and additional revenue-sharing monies. Average salaries would be around $460,000. The supermax in the last CBA was $249,244 in 2025.

The union was reportedly “unmoved” by the offer and felt it still did not allow players’ salaries to sufficiently grow with the business. Players want a revenue-sharing structure that ties their salaries to the business with a salary cap driven by revenue, versus fixed annual salaries and caps set years in advance.

The previous extension runs out Sunday. It included an opt-out for either side to leave negotiations with 48 hours’ notice. The option would have triggered a work stoppage, and players would not have been able to enter team facilities or work with coaches. Had no extension been agreed upon, the sides could have continued negotiating in a status quo period.

The league and union have historically extended the deadline. In 2019, they initially extended it 60 days before tacking on another two weeks. The sides ultimately announced an agreement on Jan. 14, 2020, one day before it expired. The CBA raised maximum salaries 82% to $217,000 in the first year and introduced the “prioritization” clause.

The parties hoped they could reach a deal by the deadline, but acknowledged throughout the summer that there was wiggle room. As days pass, the room to wiggle dwindles. The Portland and Toronto franchises need to conduct an expansion draft, the rules of which will be collectively bargained, and more than three-quarters of the league will become free agents. The collegiate draft in which the Dallas Wings hold the No. 1 pick for a consecutive year is scheduled for April. yahoo!