The WNBPA or WNBA Players Union decided to opt out of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement last October. But they could take this a step further. Last weekend, Chelsea Leite of SB Nation wrote that WNBA players will not rule out a strike before the 2026 season, where they initiate a work stoppage. This is different than a lockout, where the team owners initiate that stoppage.
Leite writes about why the WNBPA won’t rule out a strike. The WNBA is riding a wave of success. A landmark $200 million annual media rights deal kicks off in 2026 ($2.