WNBA commissioner says league, union 'have to get a deal done by Monday'

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Amid a fourth day of marathon negotiations, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressed the “urgency” of ongoing CBA talks between the league and the WNBPA.

“I’ve never been a betting woman in my life, and I’m not going to start now. But we have to get a deal done by Monday,” Engelbert said, according to an Associated Press report. “We have to get it done without disrupting some part of the fact that we’ve got to run this two-team expansion (draft). We have to get expansion going. (We’ve) got to get free agency going. We gotta get the college draft.”

Engelbert reportedly told on-site media in New York there’s “urgency” between the league and its players’ union to try to get a deal done by Monday, March 16, to avoid disruptions to 2026 preseason activities.

The 2026 WNBA Draft is currently scheduled for April 13. Training camp is slated to start on April 19, with preseason matchups beginning on April 25 and running through May 3. The season is tentatively scheduled to begin on May 8. Free agency and expansion drafts for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, which also need to happen before the season, cannot begin until a new CBA agreement is in place.

WNBPA Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson, who was also on-site, reportedly described the progress that’s been made over the course of the past four days as “movement.”

“We have been there committed ’round the clock and speaking very passionately and factually,” Carmichael Jackson said. “As long as movement keeps us going in a forward direction, then I think we’re good.”

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Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against the Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas.

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Game 2: Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) shoots a layup against Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22).

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Game 1: Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces battles for the ball with Alyssa Thomas #25 and Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury.

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Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts against the Phoenix Mercury during the fourth quarter.

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Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.

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Game 1: Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon looks on.

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Game 1: A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury.

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Carmichael Jackson said that Engelbert and the league have emphasized that a “transformational” deal remains the ultimate goal. The commissioner’s comments to the on-site media seemed to reflect that.

“We’re trying to put a package together, salaries and benefits and all the other things the players want and deserve, and I want for them, too,” Engelbert reportedly said. “I said, I want all these things for the players … make it a package that meets our objectives of a transformational deal.”

Carmichael Jackson also reportedly shared with the media that a salary system between the league and its players “tied to revenue in a meaningful way” remained a top priority.

“Conversations have helped us kind of chip away at what the concerns are for both sides and how we meet them and how we address them,” Carmichael Jackson said.

Sources told USA TODAY Sports that the two sides continue to meet to work through CBA negotiations, exchanging multiple proposals throughout talks this week. As of Friday morning, meetings between the league and WNBPA leadership had extended well beyond 36 hours of negotiating time after four consecutive days of marathon meetings. One source confirmed that by Friday evening, there were 11 more hours of talks.

On Friday, WNBPA Vice President Napheesa Collier also reportedly joined on-site negotiations. It was Collier’s first reported appearance during the marathon negotiations. She joined other executive committee members who were already on site, including vice president Nneka Ogwumike.

“I think we both always understood each other,” Carmichael Jackson said. “Now we have to continue to do the dance and see where that nets out.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA commissioner says CBA negotiations have to get done by Monday

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