“This is a defining moment not just for the WNBA, but for all of us who believe in progress,” expressed WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike this Monday. The 2024 season has been a game-changer for the WNBA, especially as the women’s league marked a huge breakthrough after years of sustained and significant growth.

It was right after the arrival of this rookie class that WNBA ratings and viewership soared, increasing by 170 percent in the regular season. “I look forward to building the future of the league and sitting down with the players, whether they opt out or not,” added WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. With that statement, players opted out of the current CBA.

This Monday, after the final showdown between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx, the WNBA Players Union announced their decision.“The players made the decision to opt out of the last CBA to realign the business and save the league from its own limitations,” shared executive director Terri Jackson. While many are concerned about the opt-out, the union has a unique perspective on their decision.

New CBA through the lens of Union

While details remain to be unveiled through discussions, the players are advocating for several key factors, which were outlined in the announcement. “The world has evolved since 2020, and we cannot afford to stand still. If we stay in the current agreement, we will fall behind,” added Ogwumike. For the players, there are several items they want to address in the new CBA.

First and foremost, they seek a new economic model without “imposing arbitrary and restrictive caps” on player benefits and compensation. When it comes to player benefits, naturally, salaries are a key issue. The next item on the agenda is increased salaries. This has been a longstanding concern, and they aim to establish a “clear distinction between salary and bonuses.”

This distinction will help players receive compensation that reflects their value and contributions on the court. In addition to these, retirement benefits, pregnancy, and family planning benefits are also expected to be part of the new CBA negotiations.

“I suspect that given the transformation of the league, we’ve been working so hard on building this long-term economic model, and we’ve already returned to the players through charter flights,” added Engelbert. For her, reaching a mutual agreement and continuing the playoff bonuses— which were increased by 50% a few years ago—will require both parties to come to the “bargaining table.”

“We’ll continue to talk about the issues that are most important to the players,” she said.

However, the union’s vision is not the only factor to consider in the new CBA. While the players have opted out of the current CBA two years early, this does not mean the league will immediately enter a lockout.

As for the WNBA, the current CBA will remain in effect for the next season

Both the Union and the league have until November 1 to finalize their decision to opt out. The current agreement, first established before the 2020 regular season, is set to expire before 2027. As the current CBA remains in effect, the two sides will have about a year to reach a mutual agreement. Now, you might be wondering—what happens if they don’t?

In that case, a work stoppage could occur after the 2025 campaign. However, no timeline or specific negotiation details are known yet. What we do know is that the WNBPA and the players will soon begin working on a new CBA. “With the historic 2024 WNBA season now in the books, we look forward to working together with the players and the WNBPA on a new CBA that is fair for all and lays the foundation for growth and success for years to come,” shared commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

For the women’s league, the decision to opt out comes after a year of substantial growth in both viewership and attendance. In fact, this season’s playoffs saw a significant 140% increase in viewership, before even reaching the finals. It was the highest since the league’s inaugural season in 1997.

Caitlin Clark played a significant role in that growth, as one of her playoff games generated a staggering 2.5 million viewers alone. But it wasn’t just her driving viewership— even the semifinals average went up 99% from last season’s numbers, with 850,000 viewers.

Despite these positive outcomes, there are still repercussions for the WNBA

The league, despite all the success, will reportedly lose $40 million this season. Finances are expected to improve once the new media rights deal takes effect starting with the 2026 season. “This is going to be an opportunity to listen to one another and take this league to the next level for generations to come,” shared Engelbert when asked about the negotiations ahead of Game 1 of the finals.

Do you know where all of this started? This July, when the WNBA inked an 11-year media rights deal with Amazon Prime, Disney, and NBC for approximately $200 million. Looks normal? Now, consider the current media deal, valued at around $60 million per season. But the growth isn’t limited to CBA or the media deal.

The WNBA is on the verge of expansion. Next season, the league will be joined by the Golden State Valkyries, followed by Portland and Toronto’s basketball teams in the 2026 season. Sure enough, the new CBA will bring rapid growth to WNBA and the players. How remains to be seen.