WNBA Faces Lockout Threat Amid CBA Standoff

The WNBA and its players' union are engaged in contentious negotiations over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), with the current deal now set to expire in late 2025. Phoenix Mercury forward and union co-chair Satou Sabally has strongly criticized the league's initial CBA proposal, citing inadequate progress on salaries, revenue sharing, benefits, and roster size expansion. Sabally and other players argue that improving conditions for current teams should take priority over the planned expansion to cities like Detroit, Philadelphia, and Cleveland. The threat of a lockout looms if an agreement is not reached before the CBA expires, potentially disrupting the league's momentum and growing fan interest. The dispute highlights fundamental tensions between player welfare and the league's expansion ambitions. Both sides face mounting pressure as the deadline for a new agreement approaches.