WNBA Players Union Leverages Growth in CBA Talks

The Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has opted out of the final two years of its collective bargaining agreement, initiating high-stakes negotiations with the WNBA ahead of the CBA's expiration at the end of the 2025 season. Players are seeking higher salaries, improved benefits, expanded rosters, and a stronger voice in media rights decisions, citing record-breaking viewership, attendance, and a new $2.2 billion media rights deal. Executive director Terri Jackson and union vice president Napheesa Collier have emphasized the union's readiness for a potential strike if demands are not met. The rise of alternative leagues like Unrivaled, offering higher pay and reduced workload, along with increased NIL opportunities for college athletes, has strengthened the players' bargaining position. The union aims for significant negotiation progress by mid-season, while players such as Angel Reese have expressed a willingness to sit out if necessary. The 2025 WNBA season is expected to be dominated by these negotiations as both sides seek to preserve the league's momentum.