Overview
- League officials and the WNBPA met in New York for roughly three hours in the first player-involved, in-person session since October.
- The WNBA did not deliver a formal response to the union’s December proposal and told players it will begin preparing a written counter.
- The impasse centers on revenue sharing and pay: players seek about 30% of gross revenue with a team cap near $10.5 million, while the league proposes net-based sharing with a 2026 max base near $1 million that could reach about $1.3 million, plus minimums above $250,000 and average salaries above roughly $530,000.
- A status-quo moratorium that began Jan. 9 continues to pause free agency and has already delayed the expansion draft for Toronto and Portland, with the 2026 season scheduled to start May 8.
- Strike authorization remains in place as union leaders voiced frustration with the pace of talks and said they are waiting for the league’s written proposal before determining next steps.