Overview
- The Jan. 9 deadline passed without a new CBA, and both sides agreed to a moratorium that freezes free agency, qualifying offers, core designations, and most transactions.
- Front Office Sports reports the league is exploring repurchasing the 16% equity stake it sold for $75 million in 2022, a move under evaluation as franchise valuations have surged.
- Union proposals seek roughly 30% of gross revenue with a salary cap near $10.5 million, while the league’s latest offer ties pay to about 70% of net revenue with a cap near $5 million.
- Reported league terms would significantly lift compensation, including average salaries above $530,000 and potential maximums surpassing $1.3 million.
- Player comments have sharpened public scrutiny, with Sophie Cunningham saying talks are "heading towards a lockout," Natasha Cloud describing Unrivaled as a fallback option drawing fan pushback, and ESPN’s Rebecca Lobo warning that rhetoric could erode support for the players’ position.