The battle is on in the WNBA!

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has decided to withdraw from its current collective bargaining agreement with the league.

The WNBA’s players’ union, the WNBPA, voted Monday to terminate its contract with the league. The game came one day after the New York Liberty won the first WNBA championship in franchise history. long expected That the WNBPA intended to make this move. (Related: Liberty wins first WNBA championship in franchise history, first basketball title in New York City in 51 years)

“The players made the decision to withdraw from the last CBA in order to reorganize their business and save the league from its own limitations,” WNBPA Executive Director Terry Jackson said in a statement.

Both the WNBA and WNBPA had until Nov. 1 to leave the CBA, which was originally agreed to before the 2020 season and was scheduled to last through 2027. The league may ultimately survive as a result of players exercising their options. into a lockout state. However, this will not happen immediately. The parties have one year to conclude a new agreement, and the current CBA will remain in effect until the 2025 election campaign. If a new collective agreement is not reached by the end of the season, a lockout could begin that would send players on strike.

The WNBPA Player Representative Board and WNBPA Executive Committee have decided on behalf of the organization to opt out of the 2020 WNBA/WNBPA CBA.

It’s business.#BetOnWomen

🎥:@Tubi
Seattle Storm (YouTube) pic.twitter.com/zZoOdfMoDE

— WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) October 21, 2024

BREAKING: The WNBA Players Association has opted out of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

WNBA players want a bigger piece of the economic pie, given recent increases in viewership, attendance and revenue across the league.

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) October 21, 2024

And, as sports business guru Joe Pompliano explained, we can see that happening, given how much players are demanding.

The economics of the WNBA are interesting.

• Loss in 2024 is $50 million.
• NBA owners control 42%
• Players receive up to 10% of league revenue

So if attendance and viewership are increasing, but players are expecting a $1 million annual salary, a lockout could occur.

Full podcast: https://t.co/n3qY3qoYKl pic.twitter.com/AjXCutEp2K

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) October 7, 2024

Well, this should be fun, and it’s something that might completely bring down the house Caitlin Clark built – it took the NHL year To regain talent after work is interrupted.