What’s expected in WNBA’s consequential offseason as CBA deadline nears?

The WNBA offseason has commenced following the Las Vegas Aces' championship celebration, marked by commissioner Cathy Engelbert facing boos while presenting the trophy and MVP award. This period is anticipated to be highly significant due to ongoing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations, with key issues including salary structure and player compensation, and a deadline set for October 31. Over 100 veteran players are free agents, potentially leading to a major reshuffling of teams, and the league is expanding with new franchises in Toronto and Portland, bringing the total to more than 14 for the first time since 2002.

Tensions remain high between the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) and the WNBA as the deadline approaches, with players describing discussions as "combative." Central to the negotiations are revenue sharing and salaries, with players pushing for a "transformational" agreement that reworks the revenue-sharing system to capitalize on the league's business growth, unlike the NBA's model. Engelbert has offered a "significant" salary increase but acknowledges the possibility of extending the negotiation deadline, as was done in 2020, to avoid a lockout.

If no extension is agreed upon, a lockout will begin on November 1, which would not immediately affect player pay but would disrupt offseasons by denying access to team facilities, impacting training routines. Engelbert indicated that key events like the draft lottery and expansion draft for the new teams cannot proceed without a new CBA, leaving teams uncertain about formats, including player protection rules and free agent regulations. The last multi-team expansion draft in 2000 involved four teams with six picks each, highlighting the complexity of the current situation.