Nneka Ogwumike, Women’s National Basketball Players Association president and Seattle Storm All-Star, told ESPN on Friday that the players want a 2026 WNBA season despite the strike authorization vote issued by the union on Thursday.
Players voted to authorize the WNBPA’s Executive Committee to ‘call a strike when necessary.’ The vote comes less than a month before the current CBA is set to expire on Jan. 9, 2026, following two previous extensions from the original Oct. 31 deadline.
Ogwumike said the vote is a ‘symbol of our unity and the confidence that we have in each other to be able to give ourselves some level of authority in these negotiations.’
‘We’re looking for a good deal to get done, but we’re also prepared for whatever it takes for that to happen, while also understanding that we want a 2026 season,’ Ogwumike said. ‘We want to make sure that that season is the way that it can be best for us to put the product on the court and for that product to be valued.’
The league’s latest offer includes a maximum $1 million base salary, with a projected revenue sharing component that raises players’ max total earnings to more than $1.3 million in 2026, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they’re not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing negotiations. The league’s maximum salary would grow to nearly $2 million over the life of the agreement.
The proposal also raises the league’s minimum salary to over $250,000 and the average salary to more than $530,000, up from the current $67,000 and $120,000 salary, respectively.
The players have prioritized two main points amid negotiations — increased revenue sharing and salary structures. According to The Athletic, the league has offered revenue sharing at 15% while the union has proposed 30%. The sides also differ on how that percentage, as well as the salary cap, would be calculated.’This means we could possibly strike if we need to, but it doesn’t mean that we want that to happen,’ Ogwumike said. ‘But we have it in our arsenal in order for us to get exactly what we need, which is a fair deal that represents our value in a very meaningful way.
‘I want to play, and I know that I’m going to get a good deal done on behalf of these players, along with the amazing leadership of this executive committee. So I’m looking forward to seeing how conversations can be more collaborative.’
