The WNBA has officially entered its iciest moment of labor relations in the dead of winter. After three months of post-Finals tension, the January 9 deadline for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) passed without a deal or even a third extension. Instead, the league and the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) have retreated into a "status quo" period—a legal limbo where the terms of the expired 2020 agreement remain in effect, but the actual business of basketball has ground to a halt.
To prevent a chaotic free agency under "draconian" old rules, both sides agreed on January 12 to a formal moratorium on league business. Here is the state of play as the league stares down a potential work stoppage.
The Moratorium: A Strategic Deep Freeze
Technically, free agency was slated to begin on January 11. Under U.S. labor law, the league was obligated to allow teams to send out qualifying offers and "core" designations (the WNBA’s version of a franchise tag). However, with nearly 85% of the league’s veterans hitting the market this year, the union balked at the idea of players signing contracts under the old salary scale just as a massive revenue jump is being negotiated.
The resulting moratorium pauses:
Qualifying Offers & Core Designations: Teams cannot officially move to retain stars until a new CBA is ratified.
Negotiations & Signings: The typical January frenzy is on ice.
Expansion Draft Logistics: The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, slated for 2026, are essentially building rosters in the dark, as the rules for their expansion draft are governed by the yet-to-be-signed CBA.
The "Fever Factor" and Roster Uncertainty
The impact of this freeze is most visible in markets like Indianapolis. As reported by the IndyStar, the Indiana Fever have seven players hitting free agency, including core contributors like Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull.
Under normal circumstances, the Fever would have already issued qualifying offers or used a core designation to ensure their backcourt remains intact around Caitlin Clark. Instead, the front office is in a holding pattern. This uncertainty extends to the 2026 WNBA Draft; while the date is tentatively set for April, the salary slots for those incoming rookies are currently nonexistent.
The Sticking Points: "Applebee’s vs. Chipotle"
While the league has proposed a "transformative" deal—including a $1 million base salary for top players and a $250,000 league minimum—the two sides remain fundamentally at odds over the system of growth. One player described the gap to ESPN as a total "discrepancy in perspective," noting, "You want Applebee’s, and I want Chipotle. We can't even figure out what our order is."
1. Gross vs. Net Revenue Sharing This is the $2.2 billion elephant in the room. The WNBPA is demanding a model based on gross revenue (approximately 30%), similar to the NBA’s Basketball Related Income (BRI). The league has countered with a proposal for 50-70% of net revenue. The union argues that "net" is a moving target that allows the league to deduct massive capital expenses—like the $50 million charter flight program—before the players see a dime. CNBC Sport notes that this "digging in of heels" is the primary barrier to a long-term deal.
2. The Housing Flashpoint In a move that players described as "disrespectful," the league’s latest proposal reportedly eliminates the requirement for teams to provide player housing—a staple since 1999. The league argues that with minimum salaries jumping to $250,000, players can afford their own rent. The union contends that in high-cost markets like New York, San Francisco, and Seattle, losing provided housing effectively wipes out a significant portion of the proposed raises.
3. The "Core" System The union wants to abolish the core designation entirely, arguing it unfairly restricts player movement. The league views it as a necessary tool for small-market teams to retain drafted talent.
How Close Are They?
Publicly, the tone has turned bitter. Last week, a large inflatable "labor rat" appeared outside the NBA Store in New York, and WNBPA leadership has accused the league of "preserving regressive provisions."
Despite the rhetoric, there is a shared financial reality: neither side can afford to miss the 2026 season. With the $2.2 billion media deal looming and the "Caitlin Clark Effect" driving record attendance, a strike would be catastrophic for the league's momentum. Most insiders expect a "compressed" offseason where the CBA, expansion draft, and free agency all happen in a frantic 21-day window once a deal is struck—likely in late February or March.
The WNBA is currently valued at roughly $4 billion, yet it still operates within a "millionaire vs. billionaire" ownership rift. Some owners are ready to spend like Joe Tsai (Liberty), while others are focused on the "ownership floor." For now, the league remains in a holding pattern, waiting to see if the "Chipotle" and "Applebee's" factions can find a middle ground before the 2026 tip-off.