The WNBA is getting perilously close to a lockout or strike

The current deadline for the WNBA and its players to agree on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is Jan. 9, just days away. Coincidentally, the new season of Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 women’s basketball league created by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, launched on Monday. While the excitement of Unrivaled was definitely at the forefront of a lot of press happening this week, there have also been questions about the state of CBA negotiations peppered into videos.

As Unrivaled co-founder, Collier has been taking on a big share of the media responsibilities. It was announced on New Year’s Day that Collier would be sitting out of the Unrivaled season to get double ankle surgery, with her recovery estimated to be 4-5 months long. She will be rehabbing and recovering at the Unrivaled facilities in Miami, she told the media during opening weekend. Sitting out the season means she is taking on more of an ambassador role, and as someone who has already been vocal about the ongoing negotiations between the WNBPA (players’ union) and the league, she’s been a great resource for fans to understand what is going on from the players’ side.

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During Monday’s opening night of Unrivaled action, Collier joined the broadcast to talk about the new season, as well as negotiations. She addressed reports that the WNBA claimed the WNBPA’s proposals were unsustainable from a business perspective, saying, “Being on this side of Unrivaled, I know what it takes to run a sustainable business. So I think that if they can’t find a model that makes that happen, they need to put people in place who can.”

ESPN reported last week that the WNBA projected about $700 million in losses should they accept the WNBPA’s latest proposal. They went on to say that such losses would “jeopardize the league’s financial health.”

Collier went on to say on the broadcast that Unrivaled has been able to prove that more is possible when it comes to investing in women’s sports. Unrivaled was able to offer a higher average salary in year one than the WNBA was offering. Maybe one of the biggest stories of the summer was when Paige Bueckers signed onto Unrivaled, set to make more money in 10 weeks of play in Miami than her entire rookie contract in WNBA.

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In that same ESPN update, published on Dec. 31, Alexa Philippou reported that the sides remained far apart on several negotiation points. On Jan. 2, ESPN reported that “all signs point to” a deal NOT being reached by Jan. 9, leading to either another extension, a work stoppage, or entering into a ‘status quo’ state. The players’ union has already voted to authorize a strike if necessary.

Collier did mention on the Unrivaled broadcast that she did think a deal would eventually get done. “We are standing firm in what we believe in. We are not going to back down, and we can’t take less,” she said. She went on to say that backing down would be a disservice to all those who came before them.

With many WNBA players now down in Miami for Unrivaled, it has become an offseason hub of sorts. Last season, Unrivaled became base camp for free agency meetings and discussions. This year, it seems like it’s becoming a satellite office for CBA negotiations.

Unrivaled may also be the only chance fans get this year to see these players on the court, as the lack of alignment in CBA negotiations threatens to postpone, shorten or even cancel the 2026 WNBA season.