The WNBA and its players’ union extended their collective bargaining agreement for a second time, with the deadline to reach a settlement pushed back by six weeks.
Both sides had until 11:59 ET on Sunday, Nov. 30 to reach a deal, or the collective bargaining agreement would have expired.
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“The WNBA and WNBPA have agreed to extend the current collective bargaining agreement through January 9, 2026, with either party having the option to terminate the extension with 48 hours’ advance notice. The WNBA and WNBPA are continuing to work toward a new agreement,” the league said in a statement.
The original expiration of the league’s CBA was Oct. 31, and the league quickly realized that no agreement would be reached by that date; thus, the first extension was put into place.
Had a lockout occurred, no league business would have commenced, including the expansion draft, which hasn’t been set, as two new teams, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, launch their inaugural seasons in 2026.
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See the moment the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their 2025 WNBA championship win
A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with Chelsea Gray #12 and Jewell Loyd #24 after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Las Vegas Aces defeat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the championship.
1 / 13
See the moment the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their 2025 WNBA championship win
A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with Chelsea Gray #12 and Jewell Loyd #24 after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Las Vegas Aces defeat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the championship.
2 / 13
See the moment the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their 2025 WNBA championship win
A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
3 / 13
See the moment the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their 2025 WNBA championship win
A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with Chelsea Gray #12 and Jewell Loyd #24 after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on Oct. 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Las Vegas Aces defeat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the championship.
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See the moment the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their 2025 WNBA championship win
Catherine Engelbert, WNBA Commissioner, hands the Most Valuable Player award to A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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See the moment the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their 2025 WNBA championship win
A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury during Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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See the moment the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their 2025 WNBA championship win
A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces holds up the championship trophy after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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See the moment the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their 2025 WNBA championship win
A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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See the moment the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their 2025 WNBA championship win
Chelsea Gray #12 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with fans after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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See the moment the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their 2025 WNBA championship win
Las Vegas Raiders owner and managing general partner and Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis and head coach Becky Hammon speaks to the media following Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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See the moment the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their 2025 WNBA championship win
A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces sits with the media during the post-game press conference following Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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See the moment the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their 2025 WNBA championship win
A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces speaks to the media following Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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See the moment the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their 2025 WNBA championship win
Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces takes a shot in the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Mercury during Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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See the moment the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their 2025 WNBA championship win
Head coach Becky Hammon and A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces speaks to the media following Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
The league presented a formal proposal last week, stating that max salaries would exceed $1 million and that the minimum salary would be around $220,000. The WNBA salary cap was $1.5 million, and players have been vocal about wanting a bigger piece of the pie, especially since the league’s new 11-year media rights deal, valued at approximately $2.2 billion, begins in 2026.
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Last season, the minimum salary was $66,079, while the supermax was worth $249,244. Only five WNBA players made more than $225,000 last season. (Kelsey Mitchell, $269,244; Arike Ogunbowale $249,032; Jewell Loyd, $249,032; Kahleah Copper, $248,134; and Gabby Williams, $225,000)
League MVP A’ja Wilson made $200,000 in base salary in 2025.
