WNBA sends CBA proposal to players
as March 10 deadline nears, AP source says
[March 09, 2026]
By DOUG FEINBERG
The WNBA sent a collective bargaining agreement proposal to the
union a day after the league received one from the players, a person
familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive
nature of the negotiations.
The league's response to a union proposal from Friday comes a few
days before a Tuesday deadline set by the league, which said it
would need at least a handshake agreement with the union to start
the season on time.
It’s unknown what changes the league and union made in their latest
proposal. Revenue sharing is the key sticking point between the
sides.
The union's previous proposal from a week ago had asked for an
average of 26% of the gross revenue — revenue before expenses — over
the course of the CBA. That would include only 25% in the first year
of the new deal. The league has said that number was unrealistic.
The WNBA's last few proposals have offered more than 70% of net
revenue, with that number going up as the league continues to grow.
Caitlin Clark said at USA Basketball training camp on Saturday that
the two sides should stop sending proposals and instead meet
face-to-face until a deal gets done.
“I don’t understand why we don’t just get in a room and iron it out
and shake hands,” she said. “That’s how business is. You look each
other in the eye, you shake hands, you respect both sides. For me,
that’s what I would love to see.”
Union vice president Breanna Stewart agreed with Clark's idea.
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“I think that would be great for us all to sit in a room until we
really get it done,” the New York Liberty star said. “If that means
sitting in there for hours and hours at a time, let’s do it. That’s
for the better of the player. While a situation like that has never
happened before, there’s a first time for everything.”
Stewart isn't going back to Puerto Rico with the U.S. team to play
in the FIBA World Cup qualifier tournament next week. She said she's
going home to New York and would be available for in-person
negotiations.
“We want the deal to be done. We want to have the season,” Stewart
said. "We just need to find the right numbers that reflect it.”
If a labor deal is agreed to by March 10, it probably would be
signed by the end of the month. Under that timeline, the expansion
draft for new franchises in Portland and Toronto would be held
sometime between April 1-6, according to a timetable obtained by the
AP.
Free agent qualifying offers, including franchise player tags, would
be sent out April 7-8. Teams would then have three days to negotiate
with the more than 80% of players who are free agents. The signing
period would take place from April 12-18.
Training camps would open the next day and the season would be able
to start on May 8.
“I think it’ll be tight. Hopefully we do come to a resolution sooner
rather than later," Stewart said. “But even if we do, it’s like
these other things that need to happen need a moment. You shouldn’t
have to rush the expansion draft or free agency.”
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