Tensions Boil Over: WNBA and WNBPA Head into High-Stakes CBA Talks in New York
Tensions are high between the WNBA and the WNBPA Player’s Association ahead of the first full bargaining session announced for Monday, February 2, in New York.
The WNBA and WNBPA navigate a stalled collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations over issues like revenue sharing, salary caps, housing, and overall player compensation.
Sep 9, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) talks with WNBA referee Gina Cross against the Phoenix Mercury during a WNBA game at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Vice President of WNBPA, Kelsey Plum, told reporters, “I think we’ll learn a lot from this meeting. I’m not trying to put it on the meeting, but this is a meeting that I think everyone understands what’s at stake.”
The current CBA has entered a “status quo” period after being opted out of several times until the in-person meeting was announced.
“The league has their timelines; we as players understand what’s at stake. I always come into anything that I do with a great attitude, and I’m going to see the best in this,” Plum said.
As much positivity brings to this meeting, there’s no double this moment is historical as the league and players association navigate shaping the future of the WNBA.
As the season is scheduled to tip off May 8, President Nneka Ogwumbike told SB Nation in a phone interview, “I feel like we are exercising some amazing patience, and I feel like we’re unified in that, and we’re unified in our messaging and our priorities and what we want to be able to negotiate.”
“Coming out of this, there are things that we are not compromising on, but we still also understand the aspect of negotiating in good faith. And so, that’s something that we’re going to continue to do.”
Coaching in the WNBA: Derek Fisher’s Insights on Roster Limits and Timing Issues
The league is currently operating on outdated rules and practices that were previously acknowledged by Former Los Angeles Sparks Coach and 5x NBA Champion, Derek Fisher.
Feb 8, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Former Los Angeles Lakers players Derek Fisher and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar along with coach Phil Jackson during a ceremony for the unveiling of a statue for former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant at Star Plaza outside of Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
When discussing coaching and preparation adjustments, Fisher told WINSIDER during a Q&A:
“Starting training camp and your players are still in Europe, you can’t go support them because there’s no budget for that. You start training camp and your best players are not there, to implement offensive schemes, defensive schemes, just to get to know them as people, there’s some challenge there [time-wise].”
In regards to what has surprised him about the WNBA, “I think the travel elements. The roster elements, whether you can carry 11 players or 12 players. Not being able to carry more than that,” Fisher said. “I wouldn’t say surprising because those were the rules when I said yes to the job but you don’t really know how that feels until you’re in it.”
In short, Fisher’s remarks highlight the WNBA as a league that is experiencing growth and professionalism- that are progressing rapidly, but with these structural limitations (player support, workload, and preparation) creates frustration for coaches and fueling CBA negotiations.
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