WNBA players have voted to authorize their union’s executive committee to call a strike “when necessary” as negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) remain deadlocked.
Players seem hell-bent on driving the final nail in the coffin of a league that is already fully subsidized by the NBA, and that lost over $40 million in a season that saw Caitlin Clark draw in unprecedented ticket sales and ratings.
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) announced Thursday that 93% of eligible players participated in the vote, with 98% approving the measure. The authorization does not signal an immediate strike but empowers union leaders to act if talks fail to progress.
“The players have spoken. Though a decisive vote with historic participation, our membership has authorized the WNBPA’s Executive Committee to call a strike when necessary,” a statement from the WNBPA reads. “The players’ decision is an unavoidable response to the state of negotiations with the WNBA and its teams.”
BREAKING: The WNBPA executive committee has been authorized to call a strike “when necessary” pic.twitter.com/arXmobGGEg
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) December 18, 2025
WNBA strike looming?
Players can talk all they want about other facets of the ongoing negotiations, but a potential WNBA strike would almost exclusively be about getting players higher salaries. They accuse the league of being resistant to change.
“Time and again, the players’ thoughtful and reasonable approach has been met by the WNBA and its teams with a resistance to change and a recommitment to the draconian provisions that have unfairly restricted players for nearly three decades,” the statement reads.
“The players’ vote is neither a call for an immediate strike nor an intention to pursue one. Rather, it is an emphatic affirmation of the players’ confidence in their leadership and their unwavering solidarity against ongoing efforts to divide, conquer, and undervalue them.”
“Let it be known. The players remain united, resolute, and prepared to fight for their value and their future,” they added.
The WNBPA announced Thursday that its members have voted overwhelmingly to authorize calling a strike "when necessary" during the ongoing negotiations between the players association and the WNBA on a new collective bargaining agreement.
— ESPN (@espn) December 18, 2025
Read more: https://t.co/ct45v4R7CJ pic.twitter.com/6CEG6y5LQ0
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What does it mean?
Key disputes between the league and the players center on revenue sharing, with reports indicating players seeking around 30% of league revenue while the WNBA’s latest proposal offers less than 15%. Then there are issues like salary caps, roster sizes, mental health support, and retirement benefits.
The league has proposed significant salary increases, including uncapped revenue sharing that could push supermax salaries above $1.3 million and averages over $530,000 initially.
The WNBA responded, stating it “strongly disagree[s] with the WNBPA’s characterization” and emphasized its proposals for “significant immediate salary increases and a new uncapped revenue-sharing model.”
Chicago Sky star Angel Reese famously stated before the negotiations that she had heard from other players, “If y’all don’t give us what we want, we sitting out.'”
The current CBA extension expires January 9, 2026. A strike, if called, would be the first work stoppage in WNBA history and could impact offseason events, free agency, or the 2026 season start. Negotiations continue, with both sides expressing commitment to reaching a deal amid the league’s record growth.