The WNBA Players Association announced on Thursday, December 18, that its executive committee has been authorized by a nearly unanimous member vote to call a strike if needed. This announcement comes amid ongoing collective bargaining talks between the league and the players’ association, which have been stalled since the conclusion of the 2025 season in October, after the Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA Finals against the Phoenix Mercury.
The WNBPA stated, “The players have spoken,” emphasizing that the vote is a historic and decisive move authorizing a strike if necessary. The decision reflects the players’ frustration with the current state of negotiations with the WNBA and its teams. The strike authorization received 98% approval with 93% of members participating. While this step doesn’t mean a strike is imminent, it marks a significant move toward what could be the first player work stoppage in WNBA history, occurring at a time when the league is enjoying peak popularity and media attention.
The statement criticized the league and teams for resisting change and maintaining strict rules that have limited players unfairly for nearly three decades, despite players’ reasonable and thoughtful proposals. The vote is intended to show strong confidence in player leadership and unity against attempts to divide and marginalize the players. The association made clear that this is not a call for an immediate strike but a statement of solidarity and readiness to fight for their values and future.
In response, the league issued a statement noting its awareness of the vote but claimed it misrepresents the negotiation status. The league emphasized its commitment to reaching an agreement promptly to deliver a 30th season to fans, teams, and partners, and to negotiate in good faith a new collective bargaining agreement that improves player pay, benefits, and experience while ensuring long-term growth of the league.
The Players Executive Committee, including stars like Seattle Storm’s Nneka Ogwumike, who serves as president, and vice presidents Kelsey Plum, Nafeesa Collier, Brianna Stewart, and Alysha Clark, will decide if a strike should be called. During a recent media event, Collier expressed confidence in the players’ association and optimism about the future, acknowledging ongoing conversations for change.
Tensions in negotiations have arisen over revenue sharing and salary structure disagreements. Currently, players receive only 10% of the league’s 90% revenue share. The association is pushing to increase this to about 30% in the new agreement. Citing the league’s $2.2 billion, 11-year media rights deal starting next season and plans to expand from 13 to 18 teams by 2030 (each paying a $250 million expansion fee), the players proposed a veteran minimum salary of roughly $300,000 and a supermax of $1.1 million, up from the current $66,000 and $249,000 respectively.
The deadline for finalizing a new CBA has been extended twice—from October 31 to November 30, and now to January 9—with a clause allowing either side to end negotiations with 48 hours’ notice, enabling the association to strike or the league to impose a lockout.
Fan Take: This vote signals an important moment of player solidarity and determination that could reshape the future of the WNBA. For fans, it underscores the players’ fight not just for better pay and conditions but for the growth and respect of women’s professional basketball as a whole.
