Indianapolis Recorder Exclusive: Is the WNBA facing a lockout?

Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark expresses her feelings to the officials during the game against the Washington Mystics on July 10, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis, IN. (Photo/David Dixon) By NORAL PARHAM, Indianapolis Recorder In a move for equity and fair working conditions, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has chosen to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the WNBA, raising concerns about a possible lockout at the end of the 2025 season. This decision, announced Oct. 21, one day after Game 5 of the WNBA Finals, is a call for a modernized agreement that aligns with the league’s recent growth and trajectory while addressing longstanding player grievances. Current WNBA CBA and new demands The existing agreement, which expires 2027, now gives players and league representatives until the end of next season to negotiate terms that better reflect the surging popularity of the WNBA. Recent statistics show viewership rising by 170% on ESPN, a 48% increase in attendance and CBS Sports viewership up by 86%. WNBA players argue that their financial compensation, health benefits and working conditions lag behind this growth. WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike believes the CBA is outdated. “The world has...