The WNBA is heading toward an inevitable confrontation as its current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is set to expire at the end of October. While the league has offered a massive pay raise, it’s not enough to calm the storm brewing among players. In fact, this offer may be the catalyst for a work stoppage, with a potential lockout looming large. The WNBA players are demanding more than just a temporary increase—they want a financial model that grows with the league’s success. If their demands aren’t met, a lockout could delay the start of the 2026 season.

The WNBA’s Proposal: A Pay Raise That Falls Short

Under the current proposal, WNBA players would see a dramatic increase in pay. The salary cap could see a significant boost, and the maximum base salary may increase from $249,244 to at least $1 million. While that’s a large jump, it still doesn’t meet the expectations of the players.

The proposal, though massive on paper, has been met with strong resistance from players like Nneka Ogwumike, President of the WNBA Player’s Association and one of the most decorated players in league history. Ogwumike has been clear in stating that while the pay increase is a step forward, it doesn’t address the underlying issue: the lack of a financial system that scales with the growth of the league itself.

“The players are still adamant that we get a percentage of revenue that grows with the business,” Ogwumike told ESPN. “It’s not just about this momentary increase, but about creating a system where the money grows as the league grows.”

Players are asking for more than just a one-time bump in salaries. They’re seeking a system where salaries increase based on a percentage of revenue tied to the overall growth of the league, similar to the model used by the NBA.

The Heart of the Issue: Growth, Not Just Money

The WNBA’s current salary cap is set annually with a predefined increase of just three percent. This model, while offering incremental increases, doesn’t reflect the growth of the league or the business surrounding it. Players like Ogwumike want to see their compensation tied to the overall financial success of the WNBA.

“In the NBA, salaries are set based on a percentage of basketball-related income, and that’s a system that grows with the business,” Ogwumike explained. “The WNBA needs to adopt a similar model to keep pace with the growing market and revenue opportunities, not just set salary caps based on arbitrary numbers.”

By adopting a model where salaries increase in direct proportion to the league’s growth, players believe they would be compensated fairly and in a manner that reflects the increasing revenue generated by the sport. Without this structure in place, they argue, any increase in salaries—no matter how substantial—will ultimately become unsustainable.

The Players’ Demands: A Parallel Pay System

What players are asking for is a parallel pay system—one that adapts as the league evolves. While a $1 million base salary is certainly an improvement, Ogwumike and other WNBA stars see it as a temporary solution that doesn’t fix the core issue of financial inequality. If the league continues to grow at a slow pace, the increase in salary will quickly lose its value, and players will find themselves right back where they started, with salaries that don’t reflect the financial success of the league.

“It’s basically the same system that we exist in right now,” Ogwumike said of the WNBA’s latest offer. “Yes, the money is more, but the growth of the business and the league is still not being taken into account. We need a system that keeps pace with the league’s success.”

The key demand from players is not just a pay raise—it’s a long-term, sustainable financial model that grows as the WNBA becomes a more prominent part of the sports landscape. Players want to ensure that as the league becomes more profitable, their pay will also increase accordingly.

A Stalemate and the Potential for a Lockout

With the CBA set to expire at the end of October and no agreement in sight, it’s increasingly likely that the WNBA will face a lockout. The league’s latest offer, while providing significant short-term pay raises, does little to address the long-term financial structure players are demanding. The players’ refusal to settle for anything less than a system that ensures their pay grows alongside the league is creating a divide that the WNBA will have to navigate carefully.

The potential for a work stoppage is real, and with it comes the possibility of a delayed start to the 2026 season. As negotiations heat up, both sides will have to find common ground if they hope to avoid a lockout that could set the league back in its ongoing efforts to grow its fanbase and attract sponsors.

The Bigger Picture: The WNBA’s Struggle for Equity

The dispute over pay raises in the WNBA is about more than just money—it’s about equity and recognition. Women’s professional sports, and particularly the WNBA, have long struggled to gain the financial backing and respect they deserve, despite the growing popularity of the league. While the NBA’s stars enjoy multi-million dollar contracts, WNBA players have consistently fought for better compensation and greater visibility.

The battle for fair pay is not just a financial issue; it’s also a fight for respect. Players like Nneka Ogwumike and others are calling for a model that rewards them for their talent, their work ethic, and their contributions to a league that is steadily growing in stature.

As the WNBA continues to make strides in raising the profile of women’s basketball, players are demanding that the league provide them with the tools they need to thrive financially. The proposed pay raise, while appreciated, doesn’t go far enough in addressing the systemic issues players are facing. Until the league adopts a system that ensures players are fairly compensated based on the league’s growth, the calls for a lockout and further negotiations will only intensify.

What’s Next for the WNBA and Its Players?

As the October deadline for the CBA approaches, the WNBA is at a crossroads. Will the league recognize the players’ demands and offer a solution that addresses the core issues of equity and pay growth? Or will it risk a lockout that could delay the start of the 2026 season and create lasting tensions between the league and its players?

For Sophie Cunningham and her fellow athletes, the stakes are high. The future of women’s basketball, and the fairness of the system that supports it, hangs in the balance. As the negotiations unfold, one thing is certain: the WNBA’s fight for fair pay is far from over, and the players are prepared to stand their ground until their voices are heard.