WNBA players vote to strike if CBA negotiations impasse continues; league responds

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Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional information.

WNBA players are prepared to strike if collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the league remain at a standstill.

Players voted to authorize the Women’s National Basketball Players Association’s Executive Committee to “call a strike when necessary,” the union announced on Thursday. The vote comes less than a month before the current CBA is set to expire on Jan. 9, 2026, following two previous extensions from the original Oct. 31 deadline.

“The players have spoken,“ the WNBPA said in a statement obtained by USA TODAY Sports. ”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.”

The WNBPA said the strike authorization vote resulted in 98% yes votes with 93% participation among players.

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Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces’ Jewell Loyd (24) and A’ja Wilson (22) celebrate after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury.

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

Game 2: The Phoenix Mercury’s Kahleah Copper (2) drives the ball past Las Vegas Aces guards Jackie Young (0) and Dana Evans (11).

Game 2: Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) drives the ball against Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally.

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

Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrates with teammates after the Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 89-86, at Michelob Ultra Arena.

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.

Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) and A’ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces grab a rebound past DeWanna Bonner (14) and Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury.

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

Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) looks to tip a loose ball away from Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb (33).

Game 1: Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) shoots against Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4).

Game 1: A’ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates after making a basket against the Phoenix Mercury.

Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Megan Gustafson (17) of the Las Vegas Aces.

Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury looks to shoot the ball against NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces.

Game 1: NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts during the third quarter.

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

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

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

Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) dribbles against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).

Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) drives against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).

Game 1: Kahleah Copper (2) of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates after her 3-point basket.

Game 1: Head coach Nate Tibbetts of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the first quarter.

Game 1: Maddy Westbeld of the Chicago Sky (left) and Rae Burrell of the Los Angeles Sparks look on.

Game 1: Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts in front of Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.

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

Game 1: Dana Evans of the Las Vegas Aces, shoots the ball between Monique Akoa Makani and Natasha Mack of the Phoenix Mercury.

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

Game 1: Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury grabs a rebound against the Las Vegas Aces.

Game 1: Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball against Monique Akoa Makani of the Phoenix Mercury.

Game 1: A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces grabs a rebound against Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.

WNBA CBA: Latest on negotiations, revenue share, roster sizes

MORE: Breanna Stewart says NBA commissioner Adam Silver should join WNBA CBA talks

New York Liberty All-Star forward Breanna Stewart, who serves as a vice president of the WNBPA’s executive committee, said ongoing negotiations are headed toward a “standoff” because “what we’re doing right now isn’t really working.” Stewart even invited NBA commissioner Adam Silver to the negotiating table, one day after Silver said he’d be willing to join talks in hopes of getting a deal done to avoid a lockout or a strike.

“We’re the ones that are willing to compromise and they still aren’t budging,” Stewart said during Unrivaled’s media day on Wednesday. “If they’re not going to budge, we’re going to get to this point where we’re just going to be at a standoff. That’s kind of where we’re at right now.”

Stewart added, “We know how important as players it is to play and to be on the court. But at the same time, if we’re not going to be valued the way that we know we should be, in the way that every kind of number situation tells us, then we’re just not going to do something that doesn’t make sense for us.”

In a statement issued to USA TODAY Sports on Thursday, the league said the union’s account of events “fundamentally misrepresents” ongoing talks, noting the WNBA remains “steadfast in its commitment to reaching an agreement as soon as possible.”

“While we acknowledge the players’ right to authorize a future work stoppage, we strongly disagree with the WNBPA’s characterization of the current state of negotiations, which fundamentally misrepresents the ongoing discussions taking place at the bargaining table,” the WNBA statement said. “It is difficult to understand claims that the league is resistant to change, particularly given that we are proposing numerous CBA modifications including significant immediate salary increases and a new uncapped revenue-sharing model that would ensure continued salary growth tied to revenue growth.”

The league added: “We have negotiated in good faith and with urgency, and remain focused on finalizing a new collective bargaining agreement that not only meaningfully enhances player pay, benefits, and experience, but also does so in a way that ensures the long-term growth of the game and the league’s capacity to serve the next generation of WNBA players.”

Sacramento Monarchs center/forward Yolanda Griffith won MVP in 1999.

Connecticut Sun forward Jonquel Jones won MVP in 2021.

Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike won MVP in 2016.

Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings won MVP in 2011.

Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles won MVP in 2012.

Chicago Sky guard/forward Elena Delle Donne won MVP in 2015 and 2019.

Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi won MVP in 2009.

Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles won MVP in 2017.

Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart won MVP in 2018 and 2023.

Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker won MVP in 2008 and 2013.

Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore won MVP in 2014.

Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson won MVP in 2003, 2007 and 2010.

Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie won MVP in 2001, 2004 and 2006.

Houston Comets guard Sheryl Swoopes won MVP in 2000, 2002 and 2005.

Houston Comets guard Cynthia Cooper won the MVP award in 1997 and 1998.

Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson won MVP in 2020, 2022 and 2024.

A strike could result in the 2026 season being delayed or canceled, a growing possibility and concern for the players. The WNBA has never experienced a lockout in its 29-year history, although the 2003 WNBA draft and preseason were postponed before a new CBA was reached.

The players have prioritized two main points of concern amid negotiations — increased revenue sharing and salary structures. According to The Athletic, the league has offered revenue sharing at 15% while the union has proposed 30%. The sides also differ on how that percentage, as well as the salary cap, would be calculated.

The league’s latest offer includes a maximum $1 million base salary, with a projected revenue sharing component that raises players’ maxtotal earnings to more than $1.3 million in 2026, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they’re not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing negotiations. The league’s maximum salary would grow to nearly $2 million over the life of the agreement.

The proposal also raises the league’s minimum salary to over $250K and the average salary to more than $530K, up from the current $67K and $120K salary, respectively.

Caitlin Clark wears a shirt saying "Pay us what you owe us" before the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. — Caitlin Clark wears a shirt saying “Pay us what you owe us” before the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game.

The WNBPA said players “remain united, resolute and prepared to fight for their value and their future.”

“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 WNBPA added in its statement. “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.”

The news prompted a reaction from Washington Mystics forward Alysha Clark, who wrote on Threads, “Last time we stood on business we helped flip a Senate seat.”

Clark is referring to the WNBA helping Rev. Raphael Warnock get elected to the U.S. Senate out of Georgia in 2020 over incumbent Republican Kelly Loeffler, who co-owned the Atlanta Dream before ultimately selling her stake in the team in February 2021 following her controversial comments on the Black Lives Matter movement. Players openly endorsed Warnock and showed up to the arena on Aug. 4 wearing “Vote Warnock” T-shirts during the campaign.

The WNBA players pulled a page out of their handbook amid CBA negotiations in July and wore black pregame T-shirts that read, “Pay Us What You Owe Us,” at the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis.

“That’s something we wanted to make well known. In the bubble we always knew how to make a stand with some T-shirts, so we did that today,” WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike said in July. “We look forward to negotiating our fair share and our value.”

Contributing: Nancy Armour, Meghan Hall

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA players vote to strike if CBA negotiations standstill continues

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