Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers is speaking out on where players stand regarding the WNBA CBA. WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, meanwhile, remain unresolved as the league and players approach the expiration of the current deal.
Paige Bueckers Reveals WNBA Players’ Stand Regarding New CBA
The current WNBA CBA expired at 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 9. With no new agreement in place, both sides are preparing to enter a status quo period while talks continue.
ESPN reporter Kendra Andrews shared comments from Bueckers that addressed how players are approaching negotiations and the idea that their demands are inflexible.
“There are some things we just won’t budge on, and we think that we should stand firm in,” Bueckers said. “And then there are things we think we can meet halfway on.”
Bueckers’ comments come as debate continues over revenue sharing, salary structure, and long-term financial stability for the league.
According to Andrews, multiple sources told ESPN last week that a recent union proposal would give players roughly 30% of gross revenue and establish a salary cap of approximately $10.5 million.
Those same sources said the proposal could result in projected losses of about $700 million over the life of the agreement. That figure would exceed the combined losses from the league and its teams during the WNBA’s first 29 years of existence.
Despite those concerns, negotiations are to continue under a status quo arrangement. In that scenario, player benefits and working conditions from the current CBA remain in place while talks move forward. However, a lockout or strike could still be declared by either side without advance notice.
The league has also presented its own proposal. According to reports, the WNBA’s offer includes a maximum base salary of $1 million. A revenue-sharing component would allow players to earn more than $1.3 million in total compensation by 2026. That maximum figure could grow to nearly $2 million by the end of the agreement.
The proposal would also raise the league minimum salary to more than $250,000 and increase the average salary to over $530,000. That number would rise to more than $780,000 over the life of the deal.
Under status quo rules, neither side can engage in a work stoppage without proper notice, which provides some short-term stability. Still, uncertainty remains as negotiations stretch beyond the deadline.
Bueckers, a former UConn star, is one of the league’s most prominent young voices. She is coming off a standout season with the Dallas Wings, where she earned the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year award. Her comments reflect a broader effort by players to clarify their position amid growing public attention on the talks.
The CBA deadline had already been extended twice before reaching this point. The original expiration date of Oct. 31, 2025, was first pushed to Nov. 30, 2025. It was then extended again to Jan. 9, 2026. Both sides ultimately chose not to agree to a third extension.
With the league now set to operate under the status quo, discussions will continue without a finalized agreement. Bueckers’ remarks suggest players are prepared to compromise in some areas but remain firm on issues they believe are essential to the future of the league.