The WNBA and its players association will not agree to a new collective bargaining agreement by Friday’s deadline.
That’s according to New York Liberty All-Star Breanna Stewart, the two-time league MVP and vice president of the players association.
‘We are not coming to an agreement by tomorrow, I can tell you that,’ Stewart told reporters in Miami following an Unrivaled practice on Thursday, according to multiple reports. ‘We’re just going to continue to negotiate in good faith.’
Stewart, who is a co-founder of Unrivaled, added that calling for a labor strike is ‘not something that we’re going to do right this second, but we have that in our back pocket.’ In December, players voted to give WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike and the executive committee the power to launch a strike.
The WNBA has no plans to lock out players, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports.
The key issues currently separating the WNBA and its players are increased salaries and revenue sharing, and whether the revenue that is shared is from the league’s gross or net. The two sides have pushed their deadline twice, as it was originally supposed to be resolved by Oct. 30.
However, WNPBA executive director Terri Jackson told USA Today Sports in a statement that no one should believe the latest offer by the league is a “good deal.”
The WNBPA announced this week that it has created what it’s calling “player hubs” across the globe so that players can continue to train and keep their fitness levels high in the event of a work stoppage. Universities like Stanford, Cal, UNLV and Manhattan are opening their facilities to WNBA players, as are fitness centers operated by Bay Club and Exos.
“These facilities are valuing our players, opening their doors, and saying, ‘We’ve got you.’ That kind of support means everything to our members,” WNBPA senior vice president of player relations Jayne Appel Marinelli said in a statement. “These hubs are about standing together and making sure every player has what they need to stay ready and keep doing what they love.”
Multiple players have spoken about how crucial these negotiations are to the future of the WNBA, including Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark.
“This is the biggest moment the WNBA has ever seen, and it’s not something that can be messed up,’ Clark said last month in Durham, N.C., after a Team USA training session. ‘And, you know, we’re going to fight for everything that we deserve, but at the same time, we need to play basketball. That’s what our fans crave … because you want the product on the floor, and at the end of the day, that’s how you make the money, that’s how you’re marketable.”
While acknowledging the slim chances of an agreement by Friday, Stewart remained optimistic about reaching a resolution.
‘While we are both seemingly far apart, there is a place where we can come and find a mutual ground,’ Stewart said.