Bold claim: the WNBA players’ union is actively seeking input from athletes via a new survey as negotiations for a fresh collective bargaining agreement heat up. And this is where the details matter most, because the process hinges on how feedback is gathered, shared, and acted upon.
Leaders of the WNBA players’ union met with players on Tuesday night and plan to distribute a survey to members to gauge reactions to the league’s latest contract proposal. The two sides have not yet reached a new CBA since the union opted out of the prior deal, which expired last year. A confidential source familiar with the talks spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday night, noting that details of the meeting had not been made public.
Earlier, the union asked for a player vote in December to authorize the seven-player executive committee to call a potential strike if necessary, according to the same source.
In a letter obtained by AP, ten prominent WNBA player agents offered to assist with the survey and pressed for transparency and coordinated communication rather than isolated conversations. They stressed that timely alignment and information sharing would best serve both players and the Union given the time-sensitive nature of negotiations.
Front Office Sports was first to report on Tuesday’s gathering of players.
The league told the union during a Monday virtual negotiating session that a deal needs to be in place by March 10 to ensure a timely start to the season, according to another AP source familiar with the talks.
The agents requested to review the league’s current proposal for a new CBA under a nondisclosure agreement and offered to help shape the survey questions to emphasize participation and prompt timely responses from clients. The agents described an uncommon level of unity among them, signaling a shared commitment to what’s best for players and the league’s long-term health. They also suggested text-message delivery for the survey and asked for clarity on how results would be tabulated, arguing that transparent handling would boost participation and trust among stakeholders.
If a labor deal is reached by March 10, it is likely to be signed by month’s end. That timing would align with the expansion draft for Portland and Toronto, which is expected to occur between April 1 and 6. Free agent qualifying offers, including franchise tags, would go out on April 7–8, followed by a three-day window for teams to negotiate with the majority of free agents. The signing period would run April 12–18, after which training camps would begin the next day, allowing the regular season to start May 8.
For more context, see AP WNBA updates.
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