“No deal”: WNBPA VP Breanna Stewart addresses CBA negotiation impasse as extension deadline passes
The Times Of India January 09, 2026 10:39 AM
As the January 9 deadline looms over the WNBA, New York Liberty star and WNBPA Vice President Breanna Stewart has confirmed that a new labor agreement will not be reached in time. Despite months of high-stakes discussions and previous extensions, the league and the players' association remain at a significant impasse. Stewart made it clear that while players are committed to negotiating in good faith, they will not settle for an extension or a deal that fails to reflect the league's skyrocketing valuation.
Breanna Stewart and the call for value
Women's sports have seen an exponential hike in recent years, especially in 2025, when Deloitte estimated the WNBA’s revenue to surpass $1 billion. Playing in a league that is expanding on a global scale, the players feel that they are not being paid fairly. Brenna Stewart has come out to be one of these leading voices for a generation of players who feel the current salary model of the WNBA has become a thing of the past.
The WNBPA's latest proposal reportedly seeks roughly 30% of gross revenue and a salary cap jump to approximately $10.5 million, a massive leap from the current $1.5 million cap. For Stewart, this isn't just about a paycheck, it's about aligning player compensation with the WNBA's new $2.2 billion media rights deal.
Back in July 2025, Napheesa Collier, WNBPA Vice President, addressed the same issue and said, “We're on a time crunch. No one wants a lockout. "But at the end of the day, we have to stand firm, and we're not going to be moved on certain topics. So hopefully the league comes back quickly so that we can get have more dialogue, more conversations and can get the ball rolling."
The league’s lack of urgency and no intention of budging will not affect the players. Stewart has conveyed that the players are ready for a standoff. . This firm stance is backed by a membership that voted 98% in favor of authorizing a strike if necessary, signaling that the "status quo" is no longer an option.
Cathy Engelbert and WNBPA's financial crossroad
On the other side of the table, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and league leadership have expressed deep concerns over the union's financial demands. The league has pushed back, claiming that the players' revenue-sharing model could lead to $700 million in losses over the duration of the agreement. While the league has offered a 70% net revenue split, the union argues this actually equates to less than 15% of the total pie.
This deadlock now moves the league into a period of uncertainty. While a lockout or strike isn't immediate, the lack of an extension delays critical off-season events like free agency and the expansion drafts for the upcoming Portland and Toronto franchises. As the 2026 season approaches, the pressure is on Engelbert to find a middle ground that rewards the players without jeopardizing the league's long-term business stability.
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