INDIANAPOLIS — WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Saturday she is confident that the league and the WNBPA can agree to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement ahead of the league’s Oct. 31 deadline. The league and the WNBPA met on Thursday afternoon for multiple hours, with the meeting marking the first in-person bargaining session that players attended since December. Engelbert characterized the talks as “constructive” and said she believed the league and players would agree to a new CBA that
The league and the WNBPA met on Thursday afternoon for multiple hours, with the meeting marking the first in-person bargaining session that players attended since December. Engelbert characterized the talks as “constructive” and said she believed the league and players would agree to a new CBA that is “transformational for the players, teams, owners and the future of our league.”
“I have confidence we can get something done by October, but I’m not going to put an exact date on it,” she said. “We’ve got some room to continue negotiations if we’re close at that point.”
As Engelbert spoke, players from both teams took the floor wearing shirts that read “Pay Us What You Owe Us.” Salary structure and revenue sharing have become a hot topic in the ongoing talks, as players expressed frustration at a recent league counterproposal.
Many players, however, gave a different characterization of Thursday’s meeting than Engelbert. Liberty star Breanna Stewart, who is a vice president of the WNBPA, called it “a wasted opportunity” and said there was “fluff to start” the meeting. Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier, also a vice president, said she hopes the league “comes back quickly” so that dialogue can continue. Nneka Ogwumike said that they were “hoping perhaps more would be yielded given the engagement. “
“We have a long way to go. We’re gonna use this weekend to show our value and our worth and continue to be united because we do deserve more,” said Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, who is the first vice president of the WNBPA.
More than 40 players attended Thursday’s meeting, a record for the union while taking part in CBA talks. WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson said she felt encouraged by player participation, but did not give details on whether she considered the meeting successful.
“Negotiations are hard. They have hard conversations. … That’s what today was, no different from any other negotiation,” she said.
Jackson said another meeting is scheduled “soon,” though she did not specify a date or location.
Engelbert said that the league wants to “significantly increase” player salaries and other benefits, but said that it is important to do so by “balancing with our owners (and) their ability to have a path to profitability.”
The current CBA began in January 2020, and while it sparked several significant shifts in the league, such as groundbreaking maternity benefits and a notable jump in maximum player salaries, much has changed around the WNBA since.
Just two weeks ago, the WNBA announced three expansion teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia, which are set to debut in 2028, 2029 and 2030, respectively. All three will enter the league at a record $250 million expansion fee. A new 11-year, $2.2 billion TV deal will also go into effect next season.
Here are other things that came out of Engelbert’s availability:
Engelbert said the WNBA is thinking about expanding its future scheduling footprint as well as the number of games played in upcoming seasons. While the number of games in a season will have to be part of collective bargaining with the WNBPA, Engelbert said the league may have to extend into early November “in the near-term.”
The 2026 FIBA World Cup will run from Sept. 4-13, 2026, and the league may need a break to accommodate players who want to play. Ogwumike said during Thursday’s CBA media that the league did pose ideas regarding extending the season. WNBA teams are playing 44 games this season, the most they have ever had in a season and the current maximum under the CBA.
It seems as if there will be future changes to WNBA All-Star Friday nights. Engelbert said the league is looking at possible revisions to the festivities, which this year included only the Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest. “We’ll definitely be looking at different ideas, different formats beyond the skills and 3-point (contest),” Engelbert said. “I got a lot of fans asking me today at WNBA Live, ‘We want more W this weekend.’ We’re going to look at that and hopefully deliver something in the future on that.”
Caitlin Clark, Rhyne Howard and Satou Sabally were all unable to participate in Saturday’s All-Star Game due to injury, and many around the league have wondered whether there are more injuries this season than normal. However, Engelbert said, “I think the rate of injury is about similar to last year.”
Throughout the first half of the season, players and coaches from across the league have routinely criticized WNBA officiating, often describing it as “inconsistent.” Engelbert said the league hears the concerns from its key stakeholders, and that “we’re working hard to make sure that we put the best product on the court, and our officiating follows that.” She added: “I realize consistency is the name of the game and I think it’s something we definitely need to look at and evaluate.”
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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