WNBPA Opts Out of CBA Ending in 2025, Seeking Equity Ahead of New TV Deal

Oct 21, 2024, 08:28 PM

The Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), including its Board of Player Representatives and Executive Committee, has officially opted out of its current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The current agreement will now conclude on October 31, 2025, allowing both sides a year to negotiate a new deal before the start of the 2026 season when a new TV deal is expected to commence. Players are seeking higher salaries, better benefits, and a larger share of league revenue, citing recent increases in viewership, attendance, and overall revenue. The WNBPA stated that players are seeking "a business model that reflects their true value." The move positions the players, who are viewed as holding significant leverage in the negotiations, to push for an equity-based agreement. If a new CBA is not reached by the end of the 2025 season, a work stoppage could occur starting in 2026.