WNBA Players Vote to Authorize Strike as Contract Deadline Approaches

In a decisive move that could reshape the WNBA, players voted Thursday to authorize a strike if negotiations stall. The union’s decision comes as the league and players continue to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement that originally expired on Oct. 31.

The players are pushing for a revenue‑linked model that would allow salaries to grow alongside the league, but the league has been resistant to these proposals. According to the players’ association, 98% of those who participated in the vote agreed to authorize a strike. An authorization vote does not mean the players are on strike, but it signals that a supermajority of their membership is willing to withhold labor as leverage.

“Let it be known. The players remain united, resolute, and prepared to fight for their value and their future,” the WNBA players’ association said Thursday. The union has extended the current contract through Jan. 9 while negotiations continue.

A proposed revenue share system, similar to the structure that is in the NBA, would allow player salaries to grow as the league does. The women’s players receive about 9.3% of league‑generated income, while the men’s players receive 49‑51% of the NBA’s basketball‑related income, according to MarketWatch. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told NBC News’ “TODAY” show that he believes the players should be receiving more money, but didn’t believe a “share” was the right descriptor. Silver said, “I think you should look at it in absolute numbers in terms of what they’re making, and they are going to bet a big increase in this cycle of collective bargaining, and they deserve it,” in an Oct. 21 interview.

The Associated Press reported that the WNBA offered players a proposal that would include revenue sharing and have a maximum salary of $1.1 million available to more than one player per team growing each year. In addition to salaries, the WNBA’s union is asking for improved infrastructure. That includes improvements to playing and practice facilities, enhanced player protection, codifying the charter flights program from 2024, and expanded roster sizes.

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, who is on the union’s executive council, told the AP that it was also fighting for retirement and child care benefits. Collier said, “Obviously, there’s frustration in that both sides are trying to get what they want, but we still have that fire within us that we’re willing to do what it takes,” “We’re going to do whatever it takes to get what we think we deserve.”

Tensions have flared all year over the negotiations and fears that 2026 would begin with a player lockout. And though it’s months until the new season is set to begin, several key events will occur before the May 2026 start date. The league’s expansion draft was supposed to take place this month, but it appears it may have to be delayed as talks continue. If talks continue to stall, it could affect the regular 2026 draft expected in April.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark called the talks on the collective bargaining agreement the “biggest moment in the history” of the WNBA. Clark said during a Team USA basketball camp last week, “We’re going to fight for everything we deserve, but at the same time we need to play basketball. That’s what our fans crave,” “You want the product on the floor. In the end of the day that’s how you’re marketable, that’s what the fans want to show up for.”

Natalie Esquire and Terrika Foster‑Brasby sit down and chat with Connecticut Sun’s Saniya Rivers about her rookie season, including WNBA salaries and the non‑profit she hopes to set up.

Key Takeaways

• 98% of voting members approved a strike authorization, giving the union a supermajority to withhold labor.
• Players seek a revenue‑share model that would tie salaries to league income, with women currently receiving about 9.3% of revenue.
• The union’s demands extend beyond pay to infrastructure, player protection, charter flights, roster sizes, retirement, and child‑care benefits.

The vote underscores the growing pressure on the league to address player concerns before the 2026 season begins. Whether the WNBA and its owners reach an agreement in time remains to be seen, but the players’ willingness to use collective action signals a new chapter in the sport’s labor history.