WNBA, players union extend deadline on CBA to Jan. 9

NEW YORK — The WNBA and its players union agreed to an extension of the current collective bargaining agreement to Jan. 9 just before their current deadline ran out Sunday night.

Just like the previous extension, both sides have the option to terminate the extension with 48 hours advance notice.

The sides had announced a 30-day extension to the original Oct. 31 deadline. That extension was set to expire Sunday night just before midnight. They met over the holiday weekend hoping to come an agreement.

The union proposed the six-week extension after the league had proposed a shorter one.

“We expect substantive movement from the league within this window,” the union said in a statement.

With nothing urgent on the immediate horizon except for the expansion draft for Portland and Toronto, it would be unlikely that either side would exercise the option to terminate the extension.

Last season’s expansion draft for Golden State was held in December.

Free agency would be the next big thing for both sides to deal. That usually is done in late January. This is an unprecedented offseason with all but two of the league’s veterans free agents. Players signed one-year deals last season knowing there would be huge salary bumps when a new CBA is agreed upon.

The sides have been sending updated proposals back and forth and met frequently, including Sunday. Salaries and revenue sharing are the two biggest sticking points. Earlier this month, the league put forth a proposal that would include revenue sharing and have a maximum salary of $1.1 million available to more than one player per team, growing each year.

Other things the players are pushing for include expanding retirement benefits, codifying the league’s charter flight travel and having a minimum standard for team facilities.

When the previous CBA expired in 2019, the sides agreed upon a 60-day extension and a new deal eventually was ratified in January 2020.