The WNBPA and the WNBA players union (WNBPA) have been engaged in marathon negotiations to try and hammer out a collective bargaining agreement before crucial deadlines. But there appear to be two sticking points that are stalling things.
Speaking to reporters in Manhattan on Saturday, WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike said that the main focus in the most recent round of talks centered on revenue sharing and housing for players. She said that the WNBPA sees both items as equally important and necessary to nail down.
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“The fact we are here talking about housing shows that we care about every single player—in the same way that we do about revenue share,” Ogwumike said, via Front Office Sports. “It’s very important for us to nail those two things down, which is the biggest thing on the agenda today.”
Revenue sharing is, however, the “big-ticket item” on the agenda.
“We have the big-ticket item, and that’s the big thing that we really want to nail down,” Ogwumike said. “I’m hoping that can happen soon. We want a meaningful share.”
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State of the Negotiations
Things have been rough for the WNBA-WNBPA negotiations over the past few days. Per the report, Friday’s session of negotiations ran 15 hours, bringing the total hours of negotiations just this week to 50. There have reportedly been at least 15 different CBA proposals exchanged between the two sides.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said on Friday it was crucial a new CBA be signed by Monday, March 16 to avoid the mandatory shutdown interfering with the preseason schedule. Engelbert added that while she believes a deal can be reached by then, it will be challenging.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 15: Caitlin Clark poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected first overall pick by the Indiana Fever during the 2024 WNBA Draft at Brooklyn Academy of Music on April 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Sarah Stier/Getty Images
(Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
“Can things move 24 to 48 hours? Sure,” Engelbert said. “But not much more before you start to look at can we open training camp up?”
It’s not even entirely clear just how much overall progress has been made. WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson has stated that the two sides have reached an agreement on “some things” but didn’t go into specifics.
The WNBA season is supposed to tipoff on May 8, but there are a slew of key offseason events in April that can’t happen if a new deal isn’t reached.
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This story was originally published by The Spun on Mar 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
