The WNBA and its players' union have now spent two consecutive days locked in marathon negotiations, with talks extending late into Wednesday night as both sides work toward a new collective bargaining agreement.
WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike emerged from the latest session expressing measured optimism about the direction of talks. "Being able to be in the room, being able to exchange proposals, we're feeling movement," Ogwumike told reporters late Wednesday. "We're sticking to the process. That's something that we've always been true to from the very beginning."
The negotiations have now stretched two days past the league's stated target date for completing a term sheet, raising concerns about potential impacts on the 2026 season scheduling. Despite the deadline pressure, Ogwumike emphasized the union's commitment to reaching an agreement.
"At the end of the day, we want a season," Ogwumike said. "We want to play. We've heard that from the other side as well. We need to see a more robust demonstration of that as we continue on in these negotiations."
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the league's most recent proposal features significant financial improvements for players. The salary cap would start at $6.2 million, up from previously reported figures of $5.75 million and $1.5 million in 2025, with continued growth throughout the agreement's duration.
Under the league's proposal, average player compensation would reach $570,000 in the first year and climb to $850,000 by the sixth year. Maximum compensation would exceed $1.3 million initially and approach $2 million in the final year of the deal.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert defended the league's offer as groundbreaking for women's professional basketball. "Our proposal on the table is a really historic and transformational deal for these players," Engelbert told reporters early Thursday. "We're proud of the deal we have on the table. I think it's huge gains for the players, while balancing that with the health of the league."
Connecticut Sun team president Jennifer Rizzotti, a member of the labor relations committee and former player, echoed Engelbert's sentiments. "As a former player, I don't know that I ever thought I would see the day that such a transformational deal would be offered and on the table for these players, and I'm proud of that," Rizzotti said.
The league has structured its proposal to give players over 70% of net revenue on average, calculated after deducting expenses. This contrasts with the union's previous request for 26% of gross revenue before expenses, with a first-year salary cap around $9.5 million.
Revenue sharing remains a primary sticking point between the two sides, alongside negotiations over core player designations, team-provided housing, and other structural elements of the agreement. The intensive talks have produced eight separate proposals over the past two days alone.
The marathon sessions have tested both sides' endurance, with Tuesday's meeting running roughly 12 hours from evening into Wednesday morning, followed by another 11-hour session Wednesday afternoon extending into early Thursday.
Ogwumike addressed the league's March 10 deadline with skepticism, characterizing it as a negotiation tactic rather than a firm requirement. "We haven't ever really considered that as a timeline that has been something to prioritize on our side because we have always been negotiating in good faith," she said.
The union president noted periods of slower progress from the league side while emphasizing the players' dedication to reaching an agreement. "We've experienced lulls, shall I say, in the negotiation [from the other side] and we want to play, and that's why we all flew out here," Ogwumike explained.
Three executive committee members joined Ogwumike for the in-person negotiations: vice presidents Breanna Stewart and Alysha Clark, along with treasurer Brianna Turner. The group addressed reporters shortly before 11:30 p.m. ET Wednesday before departing, while league and union staffs remained to continue working through the night.
Both sides have committed to resuming formal negotiations Thursday, with the clock ticking on the league's stated concerns about business and scheduling implications from prolonged talks. The outcome of these discussions will shape the future of women's professional basketball and set compensation standards for the league's growing player base.