WNBA’s CBA countdown: Why pay, profit and power are driving the latest standoff
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WNBA’s CBA countdown: Why pay, profit and power are driving the latest standoff
Heather Burns, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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3 min read
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The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement will expire Friday, Oct. 31. It was reported by ESPN that the league would like toextend the current agreement 30 daysto allow for more negotiating time. If the players' union agrees, an extension will delay a possible work stoppage, whether a lockout by the owners or a strike from the players.
"We have worked hard to be able to say on Friday, we did it. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen," Erin D. Drake, the senior adviser and legal counsel for the players' union, said during an appearance on The Athletic's "No Offseason" podcast on Tuesday. "In a dance, it takes two to tango. And it has been difficult to find a beat, to find a rhythm and to find the same sense of urgency (from the league), just to be frank, to get this done."
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The league and players' union previously agreed to a 60-day extension in 2019, three days before the last CBA was set to expire on Oct. 31, 2019. A new deal was subsequently reached on the current CBA on Jan. 14, 2020, and signed into effect three days later on Jan. 17, 2020.
Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces' Jewell Loyd (24) and A'ja Wilson (22) celebrate after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury.
(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)
Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against the Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas.
(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)
Game 2: The Phoenix Mercury's Kahleah Copper (2) drives the ball past Las Vegas Aces guards Jackie Young (0) and Dana Evans (11).
(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)
Game 2: Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) drives the ball against Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally.
(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)
Game 2: Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) shoots a layup against Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22).
(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrates with teammates after the Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 89-86, at Michelob Ultra Arena.
(Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)
Game 1: Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces battles for the ball with Alyssa Thomas #25 and Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) and A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces grab a rebound past DeWanna Bonner (14) and Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) looks to tip a loose ball away from Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb (33).
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, Imagn Images)
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) shoots against Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4).
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, Sylvanie-Imagn Images)
Game 1: A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates after making a basket against the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Megan Gustafson (17) of the Las Vegas Aces.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury looks to shoot the ball against NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts during the third quarter.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts against the Phoenix Mercury during the fourth quarter.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury drives to the basket against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) dribbles against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).
(Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) drives against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).
(Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)
Game 1: Kahleah Copper (2) of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates after her 3-point basket.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Head coach Nate Tibbetts of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the first quarter.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Maddy Westbeld of the Chicago Sky (left) and Rae Burrell of the Los Angeles Sparks look on.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts in front of Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon looks on.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Dana Evans of the Las Vegas Aces, shoots the ball between Monique Akoa Makani and Natasha Mack of the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury grabs a rebound against the Las Vegas Aces.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball against Monique Akoa Makani of the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
Game 1: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces grabs a rebound against Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
1/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces' Jewell Loyd (24) and A'ja Wilson (22) celebrate after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury.
(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)
1/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces' Jewell Loyd (24) and A'ja Wilson (22) celebrate after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury.
(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)
2/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against the Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas.
(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)
3/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: The Phoenix Mercury's Kahleah Copper (2) drives the ball past Las Vegas Aces guards Jackie Young (0) and Dana Evans (11).
(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)
4/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) drives the ball against Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally.
(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)
5/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) shoots a layup against Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22).
(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)
6/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrates with teammates after the Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 89-86, at Michelob Ultra Arena.
(Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)
7/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces battles for the ball with Alyssa Thomas #25 and Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
8/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) and A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces grab a rebound past DeWanna Bonner (14) and Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
9/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
10/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) looks to tip a loose ball away from Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb (33).
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, Imagn Images)
11/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) shoots against Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4).
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, Sylvanie-Imagn Images)
12/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates after making a basket against the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
13/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Megan Gustafson (17) of the Las Vegas Aces.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
14/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury looks to shoot the ball against NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
15/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts during the third quarter.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
16/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts against the Phoenix Mercury during the fourth quarter.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
17/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury drives to the basket against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
18/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
19/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) dribbles against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).
(Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)
20/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) drives against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).
(Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)
21/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Kahleah Copper (2) of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates after her 3-point basket.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
22/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Head coach Nate Tibbetts of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the first quarter.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
23/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Maddy Westbeld of the Chicago Sky (left) and Rae Burrell of the Los Angeles Sparks look on.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
24/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts in front of Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
25/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon looks on.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
26/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Dana Evans of the Las Vegas Aces, shoots the ball between Monique Akoa Makani and Natasha Mack of the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
27/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
28/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury grabs a rebound against the Las Vegas Aces.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
29/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball against Monique Akoa Makani of the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
30/30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces grabs a rebound against Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
The biggest sticking point this time around is pay structure and revenue sharing. Last week, the sides went back and forth after NBA commissioner Adam Silver appeared on "Today" on Oct. 21 and took issue with a question about revenue sharing. Craig Melvin asked if WNBA players should get a larger piece of the revenue pie. "They get nine percent of total revenue compared to roughly 50 percent of the revenue of NBA players. Should they be getting a larger share of revenue in the WNBA?"
"Yes," Silver said "I think 'share' isn't the right way to look at it because there's so much more revenue in the NBA. You should look at it in absolute numbers in terms of what they're making. They are going to get a big increase in this cycle of collective bargaining. And they deserve it."
The WNBPA clipped Silver saying, "I think 'share' isn't the right way to look at it," to its Instagram story with the caption, "Don't want to share?" and tagged the commissioner.
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The back and forth has continued as the deadline nears. So what do we know about the WNBA, its profitability and what's at stake?
Is the WNBA profitable?
An article in the New York Post in 2024said the WNBA lost $40 million that season. And back in 2018 NBA commissioner Adam Silver told The Associated Press: "On average (we've lost) over $10 million every year we've operated."
But the WNBA is seeing an infusion of cash with three new teams -- Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia -- payingexpansion fees of $250 million. That's a five-fold increase from the $50 million the Golden State Valkyries paid to join the WNBA for the 2025 season.
WNBA franchises have seen their valuations go up, worth a combined $3.5 billion according to Sportico. The Valkyries top the list with a valuation of $500 million.
