NEW YORK (AP) – Nneka Ogwumike, president of the WNBA Players Association, acknowledged that significant hurdles remain before the upcoming season can start on schedule, but expressed optimism that games will take place in 2026. “I know our players 100 percent want to play this year,” she affirmed in a detailed interview with The Associated Press on Friday. “We want a season.”
Ogwumike highlighted ongoing disagreements between the league and the union over critical issues like revenue sharing as they work toward a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). With the season slated to begin on May 8, crucial events such as the expansion draft, free agency, and rookie draft still need to occur beforehand. She expects progress to come once the revenue sharing matter is resolved, emphasizing, “We emphasized that if we succeed in this, everything else can be done.”
Players are seeking roughly 30% of total revenue before expenses in their latest proposal. In contrast, the league’s final offer would allocate players over 70% of net revenue—that is, profits after deducting costs like facility upgrades, charter flights, luxury hotels, medical services, security, and arena expenses.
Ogwumike noted multiple times that she is still awaiting a response from the league to the proposal submitted more than six weeks ago, calling the delay “really disappointing” from the players’ perspective.
An insider familiar with the talks, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of negotiations, revealed to The Associated Press last month that the league felt the new proposal was not substantially different from an earlier one and thus did not merit an immediate reply. Following a three-hour meeting at the NBA’s offices on Monday, the union left hopeful that a new offer would soon be presented.
The league’s most recent proposal guarantees a base salary of up to $1 million in 2026, potentially rising to $1.3 million through revenue sharing—significant increases from the current salary of $249,000. Over the duration of the contract, earnings could approach nearly $2 million. This proposal was shared with players at Monday’s meeting and included in a slide obtained by the AP.
The slide detailed 37 areas where the league is prepared to make concessions, including the addition of two developmental player spots per team, granting pregnant players the right to opt out of trades, enhancing team guarantees, and establishing formal policies for charter flights and first-class travel.
Without an agreement soon, the start of the 2026 season may be delayed. Expansion drafts involving Toronto and Portland have already been pushed back. The prior CBA was announced in January 2020, about a month after signing, and it typically takes around two months between finalizing a new agreement and starting free agency—which should have begun last month. The pending CBA is expected to deliver significant salary boosts, with 80% of the league’s players becoming free agents this offseason, marking the largest potential player movement in WNBA history.
Delays in games hurt both parties, not only through lost game-day revenue but also by diminishing sponsorship deals, TV funding, and fan engagement.
Ogwumike, serving her third term as union president, found some positive in the wait for a league response, as it allowed union leaders to engage with WNBA players directly. She was in Nashville on Thursday with Athletes Unlimited union leaders, gaining insight into players’ sentiments.
“I really like the fact that we had these six weeks while we were still waiting for the proposal. It gave us the gift of time,” she said. “So, you know, in December after the strike authorization vote, we were able to meet in Miami and talk to the players.”
In December, WNBA players voted to grant union leaders the authority to call a strike. Ogwumike stressed that a strike is not imminent, though the union recently shared a video about the 1964 NBA All-Star Game walkout on social media ahead of this year’s NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
“We are fully aware that a strike is on the table, but there needs to be more discussions,” Ogwumike said. “You know, we’re not just going to say, ‘Hey, today is attack day.’ I think what we’re proving right now is that we’re negotiating in good faith.”
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
Fan Take: This latest update underscores how crucial the collective bargaining process is for the future stability and growth of the WNBA. Fans should pay attention because these negotiations not only impact player salaries and conditions but also affect the timing of the season and the overall health of the league, shaping the future of women’s professional basketball.
