The WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association met in person in New York on Wednesday for “preliminary conversations” on a new collective bargaining agreement, the two sides announced in a joint statement.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert was present alongside members of the WNBA’s labor relations committee. The WNBPA was represented by president Nneka Ogwumike, vice presidents Kelsey Plum and and Napheesa Collier, secretary Elizabeth Williams and player representatives Dijonai Carrington and Stefanie Dolson. WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson was also in attendance.
Details are sparse, though the statement said they had “constructive dialogue” and agreed to continue discussions for a “transformational” new CBA.
In October, the WNBPA announced its intention to opt out of the current CBA at the end of the 2025 season.
“We are ready to lead transformational change — change that goes beyond women’s sports and sets a precedent for something greater,” Ogwumike said at the time. “Opting out isn’t just about bigger paychecks — it’s about claiming our rightful share of the business we’ve built, improving working conditions, and securing a future where the success we…
