The WNBA has approximately six weeks to respond or engage with the players’ association concerning an updated collective bargaining agreement (CBA) proposal. This marks the duration the National Women’s Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has been awaiting any action from the league, during which progress on a new contract has stalled.
With the 2026 season fast approaching, negotiations around the CBA have reached a crucial point. It was disappointing for both players and fans when the WNBA arrived at Monday’s meeting in New York without presenting any new proposals.
Monday was meant to be a key discussion, with players like Kelsey Plumb hoping to gain significant insight. Instead, the meeting resulted in little more than an email. As talks threaten the planned start of the 2026 season, the WNBA, led by chairwoman Cathy Engelbert, had no official reply to the union’s Christmas morning proposal.
According to an insider, this lack of response led to an early decision on how the negotiations would continue. Rather than finalizing details, both sides spent much of the meeting discussing the reasoning behind their proposals. Although a FaceTime call between players and league officials marked some progress, the discussions yielded no concrete outcomes. Ultimately, everyone left understanding that it was the league’s turn to put something in writing and that talks would have to start anew.
Why the WNBA didn’t respond in writing earlier remains unclear, especially with under 95 days until the next season begins. It has been nearly six weeks since the proposals were exchanged. Sources told the Post that the league feels the union’s recent proposal is largely unchanged from previous ones and thus doesn’t require a formal response. However, insiders note that this viewpoint, that the WNBPA’s latest offer is overly progressive, had not been communicated directly to the players’ association before Monday.
Many within the WNBPA hoped Monday would finally bring a league response, but that did not happen. Anyone familiar with negotiations knows it’s a strategic process involving incremental moves and compromises. Even if the WNBA believed there was little difference in the union’s proposal, they could have drafted a response with some adjustments to keep momentum going.
Ironically, the league is still working on a reply to the WNBPA’s original proposal, which has been on their desk for about six weeks. After Monday’s meeting, the players association left hoping the league’s response would come “soon,” although no timeline was provided.
It has been 16 months since the players opted out of the previous CBA, and there is still no closer to a new agreement than a month ago. Both sides want to avoid delaying the 2026 season start, scheduled for May 8th, with training camp typically beginning around April 19th. But the longer talks drag on, the higher the risk that the season’s kickoff will be postponed.
Monday was a chance to regain lost progress, but the WNBA’s apparent lack of urgency has cost both sides that opportunity.
Fan Take: This stalled negotiation is frustrating for WNBA fans eager to see the sport grow and players fairly compensated. If unresolved, it risks delaying the season and dampening momentum just as women’s basketball is gaining significant traction worldwide.
