The WNBA has granted players a 30-day extension to further discuss a new collective bargaining agreement, as revealed by two undisclosed sources to The Associated Press on Tuesday night. The current agreement is due to expire on Friday, and negotiations have been intensifying in recent weeks as both sides strive to reach a new deal. The league is open to extending the deadline, pending an official announcement.
An extension would provide additional time for the parties to finalize a new agreement that could significantly impact player salaries. In 2019, a 60-day extension was agreed upon after the previous CBA expired, leading to the ratification of the current agreement in January 2020. The acceptance of the extension by the union remains uncertain.
Initial reports of the extension offer came from ESPN. WNBPA senior adviser and legal counsel, Erin D. Drake, expressed on a podcast hosted by The Athletic that reaching a deal by Friday would require mutual effort. The league responded by emphasizing its commitment to genuine negotiations.
Meetings between the parties have been ongoing, including a recent one in New York earlier this month. Players opted out of the current CBA last year in pursuit of increased revenue sharing, higher salaries, improved benefits, and a more flexible salary cap.
While the WNBA has presented offers, they have not met the players’ expectations so far. The exact disparity in salary terms between the sides remains unclear. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has expressed the league’s and players’ shared desire for a substantial increase in salaries and benefits through a transformative agreement.
The ongoing negotiations between the league and players have garnered significant attention, with both sides aiming to secure a mutually beneficial agreement.
