The WNBA has granted players a 30-day extension to further discuss a new collective bargaining agreement, as per two undisclosed sources informed about the development on Tuesday evening. The current agreement is scheduled to lapse on Friday, and there have been escalating tensions in recent weeks as both parties strive to negotiate a new deal. The league is open to extending the deadline, although no official announcement has been made as of now.
Extending the timeline would provide more room for both sides to reach a groundbreaking agreement that could significantly impact player salaries. Back in 2019, when the previous agreement expired, an extension of 60 days was agreed upon, leading to the ratification of the current agreement in January 2020.
The acceptance of the extension by the union remains uncertain at this point. The initial report on the extension offer was made by ESPN. Erin D. Drake, the WNBPA senior adviser and legal counsel, mentioned in a podcast published by The Athletic that reaching a deal by Friday would require cooperation from both sides.
In response to suggestions that it was not negotiating in good faith, the league issued a statement rebuffing such claims. Recent meetings between the parties, including one in New York earlier this month, have been part of the ongoing discussions. Player actions to opt out of the current agreement last year aimed at securing improvements in revenue sharing, salaries, benefits, and the salary cap.
While the WNBA’s offers so far have not met the players’ expectations, the exact gap between the sides regarding salary terms remains unclear. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert emphasized during the WNBA Finals the mutual desire for a “transformative deal” with substantial increases in salaries and benefits.