The WNBA and the WNBA players union (WNBPA) are still negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), with a target date of early next week. With a new WNBPA counterproposal on the table, the WNBA’s most popular player is weighing in.
According to Front Office Sports, that counterproposal of a new CBA was presented on Friday. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark said that the two sides need to prioritize getting in a room together to hammer out the most contentious points.
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“I don’t understand why we don’t just get in a room and iron it out and shake hands,” Clark said. “That’s how business is. You look each other in the eye, you shake hands, you respect both sides. For me, that’s what I would love to see.”
Clark wasn’t alone in expressing that opinion. WNBPA vice president and New York Liberty superstar Breanna Stewart also believes that sitting in a room and working through every little detail would be the ideal way to do it.
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“I think that would be great for us all to sit in a room until we really get it done,” Stewart said. “If that means sitting in there for hours and hours at a time, let’s do it. That’s for the better of the player. While a situation like that has never happened before, there’s a first time for everything.”
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MAY 16: Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty and Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever meet before the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 16, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)Dylan Buell/Getty Images
(Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Cancellation looming?
The WNBA has stated that if a new CBA is not agreed to by March 10th that the 2026 season – which is set to start on May 8 – is at risk of being delayed. If that happens, both sides will start to suffer. The WNBA has no shortage of media obligations and contracts to fulfill that would be at risk of getting revoked if they fail to start the season on time.
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Needless to say, the WNBPA and WNBA simply need to get this deal done before it’s too late for both of them.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Mar 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
