WNBA players authorize strike if necessary in labor talks

WNBA players voted Thursday to authorize their union’s executive committee to call a strike if talks on a new collective bargaining agreement remain at an impasse.

“The players have spoken,“ the WNBPA said in statement. ”Through a decisive vote with historic participation, our membership has authorized the WNBPA’s Executive Committee to call a strike when necessary. The players’ decision is an unavoidable response to the state of negotiations with the WNBA and its teams.

“Time and again, the players’ thoughtful and reasonable approach has been met by the WNBA and its teams with a resistance to change and a recommitment to the draconian provisions that have unfairly restricted players for nearly three decades. The players’ vote is neither a call for an immediate strike nor an intention to pursue one. Rather, it is an emphatic affirmation of the players’ confidence in their leadership and their unwavering solidarity against ongoing efforts to divide, conquer, and undervalue them.

“Let it be known. The players remain united, resolute, and prepared to fight for their value and their future.”

The WNBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But the league office believes it has proposed a “massive” salary increase — a $1M maximum pay base, for instance, plus revenue sharing that takes it over $1.2M — and agrees the players deserve the raise.

Still, the crux issue of WNBA collective bargaining sessions has in fact been the revenue sharing — with players asking for about 30% of league revenue, and the WNBA offering roughly 15%. On Tuesday night, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he’d be willing to join WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert at the negotiating table to expedite a deal. The current CBA has been extended 70 days since it was originally set to expire Oct. 31, and the new expiration date is now Jan. 9, 2026.

“For so long, for so many CBAs, the players have taken deals because they want the league to succeed,” a source familiar with the player leadership said. “They’ve continued to take CBAs that that are below what they’re worth to ensure that this league grows. But we’re at a inflection point where you have billionaires fighting each other to pay a quarter of a billion dollars just for the right to own and operate a team. When you’re at that point, it’s time.”

Back in late October, the WNBA issued its own statement, saying: “As the WNBA has stated repeatedly, we agree with the players that they deserve to be paid more and, importantly, to participate in the success and growth of the league by sharing in revenue. The comprehensive proposal we provided to the Players Association includes both significant guaranteed salary cap increases and substantial uncapped revenue sharing that enables player salaries to grow as the league’s business grows.”