The WNBA has granted players a 30-day extension to further discuss a new collective bargaining agreement, as reported by two sources familiar with the matter. The current agreement is scheduled to expire on Friday, and negotiations have been intensifying recently as both sides aim to reach a new deal. The league is open to extending the deadline, although no official announcement has been made yet.
Extending the deadline would provide more time for both parties to negotiate a potentially groundbreaking deal that could significantly impact player salaries. In a similar situation in 2019, the expiration of the previous agreement led to a 60-day extension, culminating in the ratification of the current agreement in January 2020.
The acceptance of the extension by the union remains uncertain at this point. ESPN was the first to report on the extension offer. WNBPA senior adviser and legal counsel Erin D. Drake expressed on a podcast 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 refuting such claims. Meetings between the two parties have taken place in recent weeks, including one in New York earlier this month, although specific details have not been publicly disclosed.
Players opted out of the current agreement last year in pursuit of various improvements, including increased revenue sharing, higher salaries, enhanced benefits, and a more flexible salary cap. While the league has made offers, it seems they have not met the players’ expectations. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has emphasized the desire for a “transformative deal” that includes substantial increases in salaries and benefits.