As the WNBA edges closer to the start of the 2026 season, negotiations over the league’s next collective bargaining agreement have reached a defining moment. After months of slow and largely indirect discussions, league officials and the WNBA Players Association have agreed to hold a rare in-person bargaining session in New York. With fewer than 100 days remaining before opening night, the meeting carries heightened urgency and could shape the league’s immediate future.
One of the most determined voices in the process is Breanna Stewart, who has become increasingly vocal as negotiations have stalled. A key figure in the players’ push for meaningful structural change, Stewart is navigating the added challenge of balancing her union responsibilities with her role in Unrivaled, the offseason 3×3 league she helped create. Although she will be in Miami for an Unrivaled game, Stewart plans to join the New York meeting virtually, reflecting both her commitment to the cause and the logistical strain many players currently face.
While Stewart participates remotely, the players’ union will have strong in-person representation through WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike and executive committee members Kelsey Plum and Napheesa Collier. Both Plum and Collier are expected to travel to New York after completing weekend games with Unrivaled. Plum has described the meeting as a necessary reset, noting that the compressed timeline has raised the stakes and left little room for continued silence or miscommunication.
At the heart of the ongoing dispute is revenue sharing, an issue that has remained unresolved since players opted out of the previous agreement more than a year ago. The union has argued that player compensation should better reflect the league’s rapid growth, advocating for a gross-revenue model that would allocate roughly 30 percent to players. By contrast, the league’s latest proposal includes a significantly higher average and maximum salary but would still leave players receiving a much smaller share of overall revenue, a gap the league warns could result in substantial financial losses.
The stalemate is already affecting the league’s broader calendar. With a May 8 season tipoff approaching, the WNBA has yet to finalize expansion plans, open free agency for more than 100 players, or conduct its upcoming draft. The league has never experienced a work stoppage, adding pressure on both sides to reach an agreement. For Stewart and her peers, the upcoming meeting represents more than just another negotiation—it is a narrowing window to align the league’s financial future with its growing popularity, ensuring that player voices are fully heard in the process.
