ESPN Broadcaster Explains What WNBA Players Failed to Realize About the CBA

With over a year at the table, the WNBA and the WNBPA are nowhere close to finding common ground on a new CBA. While the negotiations were supposed to bring clarity and momentum, it has only delivered more uncertainty. And as the fans are already running out of patience, a new divide is starting to surface.

The WNBA now sits less than four months away from its 2026 season without any agreement with the players in place. Furthermore, the only thing they have agreed to so far is a moratorium, which freezes all league activities. But things might get worse for the players’ union, as according to ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo, the longer this stalemate continues, the more the players risk losing something they once fully controlled: fan support.

During the All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis in the 2025 season, players wore “Pay Us What You Owe Us” shirts that quickly went viral, turning a labor issue into a cultural moment with the fans backing their every step.

But during a recent appearance on theA Touch More podcast, Lobo suggested that momentum has started to shift. The analyst worries that some of the language coming from the players’ side has begun to undercut their message.

“Some of the rhetoric I’ve heard from their side has been a little bit troublesome,” Lobo said. “When a deal is presented that’s over a million max salary and revenue share, it’s called a ‘slap in the face.’ Just use different words. And I’m worried the players might be getting to a point where they’re losing some of the support from the public. And I think that’s been a big part of this all along.”

A little context might help here. As per reports, the league’s latest proposal offered to raise the average WNBA salary from roughly $120,000 to more than $530,000. Moreover, they also proposed maximum salaries climbing past $1.3 million. However, the players have consistently pushed for a salary cap tied to the gross revenue, arguing that pay from net revenue fails to reflect their true contribution to the league’s growth.

While the players have the right to demand whatever they deem fair, Lobo’s warning is about perception, not principle. For many fans, the players’ act of calling six- and seven-figure offers insulting can land differently than intended.

“I think the players just need to be a little bit more careful with how they’re articulating things. Because if you’re working whatever job, a max salary of $1.2 million, average salary of $500,000, if you don’t think it’s fair, that’s fine, but don’t call it a slap in the face,” she further added.

For now, all league activities, including free agency, qualifying offers, core designations, and signings, are put on hold under an agreed moratorium. But when public sentiment becomes a part of the equation, the dispute is no longer just about salaries and revenue formulas, especially if the players lose their biggest leverage.

WNBA might explore another path amid stalled CBA talks

Back in 2022, the WNBA sold 16% of the league’s stake as part of a capital raise led by commissioner Cathy Engelbert. This was a business-driven decision for them after a pandemic-era, in order to help the league to fuel marketing, brand growth, and global expansion.

However, because of this deal, what was once a clean 50-50 split between NBA and WNBA owners became a more layered structure. But now that the league is in a far stronger financial position, sources indicate that the league might be looking to explore reclaiming that stake back which could simplify its structure at a critical moment.

While the equity sale helped stabilize the league, critics now believe it may be complicating matters at a time when the league and its players are struggling to align and find common ground when it comes to the CBA.

By 2030, the WNBA is expected to have 18 teams. And in recent expansion, Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia have paid $250 million each to join the league. However, the league’s next phase of growth requires a clearer, more autonomous framework, especially as players continue to push for a revenue model that the league may not yet be equipped to support.

As the CBA talks drag on, do you think the players and the league can still find a path to an agreement before the 2026 season? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

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