The VNBA and the players’ union are heading for a lockout!

The WNBA and the players’ union failed to reach an agreement before Friday night’s deadline. Expected failure, both positions remain distantbut that does not mean the end of discussions. The two camps continue to negotiate what could become the most important collective bargaining agreement in the history of professional women’s sports.

The stakes are truly colossal, as the VNBA experiences unprecedented growth in terms of audience, sponsorship and visibility. As such, players feel that their salaries and working conditions do not reflect their true worth, with salaries in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for the best of them.

Players do not compromise on salary increases

“Despite our clearly stated desire to compromise in order to reach an agreement, the VNBA and its teams have not been able to come to the negotiating table with the same spirit or seriousness.” the players’ union reacted. “On the contrary, they continued to undervalue players’ contributions, dismiss their concerns and drag out discussions. In the face of league and team action, the players remain determined, fearless and unwavering in their commitment to do whatever it takes to achieve a truly transformative new collective bargaining agreement. Let there be no ambiguity: equal pay is not optional, and progress is long overdue. We call on the league and its teams to rise to this moment. The players have been and will be.”

With the collective bargaining agreement officially expired, the VNBA proposed a moratorium on the start of free agency. A logical measure since almost all players are “free agents”. It is impossible, under these conditions, to imagine signing a contract based on an outdated agreement.

For now, the terms of the old collective bargaining agreement (CBA) remain in force thanks to the status quo principle. But the pressure is mounting, and the risk of a blockade – even if it remains theoretical – exists.

Salary cap explosion

“As the league goes through a pivotal period of unprecedented popularity and growth, we recognize the importance of capitalizing on this momentum.” provided by the VNBA. “Our priority is to reach an agreement that significantly increases player wages, improves the overall player experience and supports the long-term growth of the league for current and future generations of players and fans.”

According to ESPN, the WNBA is proposing to set the salary cap at $5 million during the first season of the collective bargaining agreement, with evolution based on revenue growth. By comparison, the 2025 salary cap was $1.5 million.

For its part, the players’ union would propose a salary cap of more than $10 million, in a system where players would receive about 30% of gross revenue.