WNBA Labor Talks Intensify as Midnight Deadlines Pass, Key Issues Remain Unresolved

Negotiators for the Women's National Basketball Association and its players' union continued marathon bargaining sessions into the early hours of Tuesday, pushing past 3:30 a.m. without finalizing a new collective bargaining agreement as critical financial and player welfare issues persist.

NEW YORK — The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and its players' union concluded another prolonged negotiating session without reaching a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), marking the seventh consecutive day of extended discussions. The latest session stretched for over 12 hours, ending at approximately 3:30 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, with both sides acknowledging progress but indicating significant work remains.

Marathon Sessions Test Resolve

The continuous bargaining has seen representatives from both the league and the union convene face-to-face for an estimated 90 hours since in-person talks commenced last Tuesday. None of these intensive sessions have concluded before midnight, underscoring the complexity and deep engagement required from both parties. Following the Monday session, neither side issued immediate statements to reporters, though earlier in the day, both had expressed optimism regarding recent advancements.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert emphasized the intricate nature of the negotiations after Sunday's 15-hour session, which also extended past 3 a.m. "We’re working as hard as we can to get it done as quickly as possible," Engelbert stated. "It’s complex. There’s a lot. There’s a lot of system elements. There’s a lot of structure elements. ... This is a big, big league and we want to do everything we can for the players. So, we’re going to keep making progress."

Core Disagreements: Revenue Sharing and Housing

Central to the prolonged dispute are disagreements over revenue sharing and player housing. On revenue sharing, the league's proposals have focused on net revenue, which is revenue after expenses, while the union's discussions have centered on gross revenue, before expenses are deducted. Over a year ago, the union initially sought 40% of gross revenue, a figure that has since been adjusted to 26% ahead of the recent marathon bargaining. The league, in contrast, has offered players more than 70% of net revenue.

Player housing also presents a significant point of contention. Traditionally, WNBA teams have covered player housing costs. The league aims to amend this provision in the new CBA. Player Nneka Ogwumike, a member of the players' executive committee, addressed the issue, explaining, "We’re trying to enter into this transitional space where we are now making enough money to be able to take care of that, but we’re not quite at the point where we can eliminate it outright."

Voices From the Table

The intensity of the talks reflects the high stakes for the league and its athletes. Union Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson, speaking before Monday's session, affirmed the union's commitment: "We’re still working. We’re still fighting. There’s still some things that we have to — big issue things — that we have to get through. So, we’re just going to stick with it and stay with it." She noted agreement on some fronts but highlighted the unresolved "big items."

Deborah R. Willig, union counsel and managing partner at Willig, Williams and Davidson, expressed surprise at the protracted nature of the negotiations. With over 50 years of experience in labor negotiations, Willig remarked, "This has been an extraordinarily unusual set of labor negotiations... I think the why, frankly, is because the league underestimated seriously the resolve of the players and what they sought to achieve."

The players' resolve has been evident through the consistent presence of the executive committee members, including Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Brianna Turner, and Alysha Clark, who have participated in most discussions, frequently departing well after 2 a.m. Connecticut Sun president Jen Rizzotti, who serves on the labor relations committee, praised the commitment from both sides. "The fact that they just don’t want to stop, both sides, it’s not just the league side, it’s even the union," Rizzotti observed. "They want to get it done. I think it’s admirable to know that they’re paying attention to the fact that this is crucial and time is of the essence and we need to have a season."

Impending Deadlines

With the WNBA season scheduled to commence on May 8 and training camps set for April 19, the urgency to finalize a deal grows. Commissioner Engelbert indicated uncertainty regarding whether training camp dates might need adjustment if negotiations continue to extend. The clock is ticking for both sides to bridge their remaining differences and secure an agreement.

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