WNBA's labor storm brewing.
WNBA Facing Potentially Serious Problem Amid Concerning CBA Situation originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Indianapolis is buzzing with the city set to host the WNBA All-Star weekend for the first time.
The weekend kicks off on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN with the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge and the STARRY 3‑Point Contest, the latter of which is headlined by Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark.
Saturday’s All‑Star Game, meanwhile, will tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC and will see team captains Clark and Napheesa Collier face off under coaches Cheryl Reeve and Sandy Brondello.
Yet, beneath the glitz and celebration lies a tense backdrop: players and owners remain at odds over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
On Tuesday, Madeline Kenney of the New York Post reported that WNBA players are "bracing" for a potential work stoppage ahead of the 2026 season due to CBA negotiations.
WNBA players "bracing" for potential work stoppage ahead of 2026 season due to CBA negotiations, per @madkenney.
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) July 16, 2025
The current WNBA CBA was set to expire on October 31, 2025, following a mutual opt‑out in October 2024.
Since then, conversations between the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) and league officials have stalled, despite mounting pressure to reach an agreement.
Sabrina Ionescu, star guard for the New York Liberty, has been vocal: "We're not just going to take the minimum" because it's "more than we're making now," she told reporters in New York.
Phoenix Mercury All-Star forward Satou Sabally recently labeled the league’s opening proposal "a slap in the face," emphasizing that the growth in popularity must translate into tangible gains for players.
With just 108 days left before the deadline, players are growing anxious.
Should talks remain deadlocked, the WNBPA has not ruled out a work stoppage ahead of the 2026 season, which could seriously jeopardize fan momentum at a time when the WNBA is experiencing unprecedented growth.
Related: Lexie Hull Shares Honest Take on Playing Without Caitlin Clark
Related: New DeWanna Bonner Update Emerges After Release From Indiana Fever
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
