WNBA lockout, explained: What you need to know about the basketball league's possible work stoppage in 2026

JUMP TO:

• Why might there be a WNBA lockout?
• What the WNBPA wants
• What WNBA owners want
• Could the WNBA season could be canceled?
• WNBA work stoppage before history
• Lockout and a strike differences 

The WNBA is approaching the most important juncture in the league's young history.

The WNBA and its Players' Association have hit a roadblock in their discussions for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), following a period of rapid expansion in recent seasons.

The current deadlock has jeopardized the league's near-term prospects, casting doubt on the 2026 season. While a resolution might still occur, numerous challenges require addressing.

Here is what to know about the potential of a lockout, the hang-ups in negotiations, and what it all means moving forward.

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WNBA lockout reasons explained

A WNBA lockout is a possibility if the league and the players' association fail to agree on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The existing contract concludes on October 31, 2025; however, not reaching a deal by then won't automatically initiate a lockout. The parties involved have the option to prolong the current contract's duration to facilitate ongoing discussions. Nevertheless, the league is operating under strict constraints due to the inclusion of two new expansion teams scheduled to commence play in 2026.

On Tuesday, Oct. 28, The Athletic's Ben Pickman reported that the two sides are "extremely unlikely" to get a deal done before the Friday deadline, causing more concern about the immediate and distant future.

Nneka Ogwumike, president of the WNBPA, shared her thoughts with ESPN regarding a possible lockout, stating, "We're hoping the agreement is finalized within a reasonable timeframe. I don't believe anyone desires to experience a lockout."

"That's not something that we're advocating for. We just want to make sure that this is a deal that's done the right way and using whatever time it takes for us to be able to have both sides agree on something."

On Thursday, October 30, ESPN announced that the parties involved had reached an agreement for a 30-day extension, setting the new expiration date as November 30.

It's confirmed that the WNBA and the WNBPA have reached an agreement for a 30-day extension while they finalize a new collective bargaining agreement. The revised deadline is set for November 30th.

The 30-day extension was initially offered by the league, as reported earlier this week

— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) October 31, 2025

The WNBA confirmed the agreement on Oct. 31, sharing the following statement:

While we believed negotiations would be further along, the players are more focused, united, and determined than ever to reach an agreement that reflects their value and undeniable impact on the league.

According to ESPN News Services, the WNBA's latest bargaining proposal features "revenue sharing with a maximum salary of more than $1.1 million available to more than one player per team growing each year."

The upcoming league minimum will exceed $220,000, with an average salary surpassing $460,000, commencing with 180 players and expanding annually.

MORE: How the WNBPA labor disbute took center stage at 2025 WNBA All-Star Game

What the WNBPA wants

Larger concerns for some WNBA players are connected to revenue sharing and the structural changes they're seeking within the league.

Here is what the association's official statement read in October 2024:

The WNBPA is pushing for an updated financial framework centered on equity, moving beyond limitations on pay. Their requests include improved retirement packages, access to childcare, and family planning services.

"The players are still adamant that we get a percentage of revenue that grows with the business, which perhaps includes team revenue, and that's just a part of the conversation," Ogwumike told ESPN.

David Berri, a sports economist, calculates that WNBA players earned under 7% of basketball-related income (BRI) in 2025. While BRI constitutes the majority of the league's earnings, the existing collective bargaining agreement doesn't ensure players a fixed percentage.

As per the current contract, players are only entitled to extra revenue distribution after the league achieves specific financial targets. Although the league asserts these benchmarks haven't been reached, the players have asked for substantiating information, which the WNBA has withheld.

"That's where the trust started to break down," one league source told ESPN. "You want to call 'em greedy and unreasonable, but you won't give them the data." 

Comparatively, the NBA's CBA sees players get paid roughly 50% of BRI, which is a split the WNBPA is seeking in negotiations. More than just salary increases, the WNBPA is interested in changing how the salary cap works, as outlined by ESPN.

In addition to compensation, players are seeking pensions — including for former players — and more support for players with children. 

The WNBPA saw a proposal from the WNBA and said it doesn't view it as "as something that moves negotiations forward." The group added that while the salary increase looks impressive, the problem is that they aren't seeing where the salaries can continue to "grow with the business," which was a sticking point for them. The WNBPA has long wanted a revenue-sharing system like the NBA, "where the salary cap is determined by basketball-related income."

While the new salary cap structure was something that the league thought that was a huge selling point of its proposal, the WNBPA said, "put lipstick on a pig and retread a system that isn't tied to any part of the business and intentionally undervalues the players." Nine days out from the new Nov. 30 extended deadline, and it doesn't seem like the two sides are close on this big issue in negotiations. 

What WNBA owners want

"Prioritization" is a buzzword likely to come up repeatedly in negotiations, as owners want players to put the WNBA above offseason leagues -- whether overseas or domestic competitions like Unrivaled or Athletes Unlimited.

According to ESPN, owners believe that “prioritization brings more respect to the league.”

Here is how prioritization works, as outlined by Front Office Sports' Annie Costabile:

Players with over two years in the WNBA were mandated by the rule to join their teams by May 1, or incur penalties. Failure to report before the season's commencement meant a complete season ban. This rule was made stricter in 2024, demanding players report by the beginning of training camp to avoid a full season suspension. 

Owners are seeking a commitment of allegiance to the WNBA, though they haven't explicitly forbidden players from participating in offseason leagues.

Owners now have a greater motivation to finalize an agreement, driven by the increasing revenue streams for both the league and its franchises. In contrast to previous situations, not backing the league currently carries the risk of substantial financial setbacks.

MORE: Commissioner Cathy Engelbert addresses Napheesa Collier, more during WNBA Finals presser

Could the WNBA season be called off?

However slim, there is a chance the WNBA season could be canceled.

The first step toward having a season would be a new CBA between the league and the players' association. Deadlines could be pushed back, but if negotiations drag out, the risk of there being no season increases.

The WNBA season usually kicks off in late May, yet the expansion draft, free agency, and WNBA Draft are crucial stages preceding the upcoming season. The existing October 31 deadline offers the league a certain amount of time, but extensions complicate the schedule.

Has the WNBA stopped work before?

No, there has never been a lockout or work stoppage in the WNBA before.

A lockout and a strike are distinct labor actions.

The 2021 MLB labor negotiations provide a framework for understanding both terms within the sports context.

A lockout signifies the owners' declaration of “you can’t work for us until you agree to a new deal.”, whereas a strike represents the employees' (specifically, the players') declaration of “we won’t work for you until you agree to a new deal.”.