WNBA players opt out of CBA, face '25 stoppage

WNBA players have opted out of their current collective bargaining agreement and face the prospect of a work stoppage if they don't negotiate a new deal with the league by the end of the 2025 season, according to ESPN's Chiney Ogwumike.

Citing union sources, Ogwumike said the union's executive committee and board of player representatives voted Monday to opt out.

Players had until Nov. 1 to opt out of the current deal, which was set to expire in 2027 and will still be in effect next season. The two sides have a year to come to an agreement.

The WNBA had a record year in terms of growth in viewership and attendance. The players now want a bigger piece of the financial pie -- increased salaries as well as lifelong benefits including retirement and family planning.

The players union also hopes to build upon "professional standards" set by teams in New York, Seattle, Las Vegas and Phoenix, who all have state-of-the-art practice facilities, according to Ogwumike.

The league recently entered into a historic 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC for $200 million a year.

Players are prepared to negotiate for as long as it takes, according to Ogwumike, even if it means a work stoppage.

New York Liberty star and players union vice president Breanna Stewart earlier this month char characterized communication with league as good.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said at her state-of-the-league address before Game 1 of the Finals that she has engaged with union leadership through the year.

"I suspect that given the transformation of the league that we've been working so hard on, building this long-term economic model, we've already returned to the players through charter, through increasing playoff bonuses a couple years ago by over 50%," she said. "So we'll continue to do that, and when we get to the bargaining table we'll continue to talk about the issues that are most important to the players."