The WNBA is at a crossroads, and the clock is ticking. As the league and its players' union fail to reach a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), teams are being told they can start sending free agent offers—but here's where it gets controversial: is this move productive or just a pointless exercise?
With the third negotiation deadline passing on Friday night, the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) find themselves in a period of status quo. This means negotiations can continue, but the terms of the expired CBA remain in effect. Under U.S. labor law, the league is obligated to allow qualifying offers to be sent during this time. However, a moratorium—a legally sanctioned pause—could have halted all free agency activity until a new CBA is ratified. But here’s the twist: just before the deadline, the league proposed a moratorium to the players' union, though it hasn’t been implemented yet.
In the absence of a moratorium, WNBA officials have been busy. Over the past two days, they’ve contacted general managers and executives from every franchise, informing them that they can begin sending qualifying offers to free agents starting January 11. Yet, sources close to the situation have called this process pointless without a new CBA in place. And this is the part most people miss: under the expired agreement, these offers—including core designations that give teams exclusive negotiating rights—are tied to the terms of the old CBA, which lacks a real salary cap. As one source bluntly put it, “Without a real salary cap, no one is going to sign anything.”
Technically, both sides had until 11:59 p.m. on Friday to agree on a new CBA or an extension. However, WNBPA Vice President Breanna Stewart made it clear on Thursday that neither was likely to happen. This stalemate has significant implications, as nearly the entire league is set to become unrestricted free agents due to contracts expiring ahead of 2026. Many of these players are currently competing in Unrivaled, which kicked off its second season this week, and are eagerly awaiting a new CBA to navigate free agency.
Players like Kahleah Copper and Dearica Hamby have expressed mixed feelings about the situation. Copper worries about rushed decisions, stating, “You won’t be able to go places and visit… I feel like it’ll be rushed. I wouldn’t want to make a rushed decision.” Hamby, on the other hand, sees a silver lining: “Initially we’re not going to feel it right away… but as it gets closer, I think it just speeds everything up, which actually might be more fun.”
Adding to the complexity, free agency is expected to take a backseat to the expansion draft for the WNBA’s two new teams, the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire. This sequence mirrors the Golden State Valkyries’ expansion draft last December, where teams protected up to six players. But here’s a thought-provoking question: Is the league prioritizing expansion over player stability, and what does this mean for the future of the WNBA?
As the league navigates this uncertain terrain, one thing is clear: the stakes are high, and the decisions made now will shape the WNBA’s future. What do you think? Is the league’s approach fair, or is it setting players up for unnecessary stress? Let us know in the comments!
