Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings star and 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year, shared her growing frustration over the stalled collective bargaining agreement (CBA) discussions between the league and the players’ union. Speaking ahead of the Unrivaled semifinals in Brooklyn on Monday, Bueckers highlighted the lack of progress that continues to delay resolution in these critical talks.
Bueckers stressed the urgency of meaningful conversations to push the negotiations forward, stating,
“At this point, it’s not really a negotiation anymore. Like, both sides aren’t moving. So I feel like we need to continue to have these conversations, continue to actually have change implemented for us to move on our stance.”
She also emphasized her desire to play the 2026 season without a players’ strike, explaining,
“We as players, we don’t want to strike. We want to have a season. I love playing basketball. That’s all I want to do. But again, there are things that need to be handled, and we want to do it as professionals.”
WNBPA Leaders Caution Against Strike Amid Ongoing Talks
Joining Bueckers’ concerns, Kelsey Plum, two-time WNBA champion and the WNBPA’s first vice president, also spoke against striking. On Monday, Plum underscored the negative impact a strike would have on all parties involved, given the league’s revenue-sharing model:
“Obviously a strike would be the worst thing for both sides, because we are in a revenue (sharing system), so no revenue, no revenue to share,”
she said, as reported by ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.
Unrivaled Tournament Progresses as Players Shine
Bueckers is currently competing in the second season of Unrivaled, a high-profile 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Her team, Breeze BC, earned their semifinal spot after defeating the defending champions, Rose BC, with a 69-50 scoreline. Breeze BC is set to face second-seeded Mist BC at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The winner of this matchup will go on to compete for the championship on Wednesday at Sephora Arena in Miami against the victor of the clash between No. 1 Phantom BC and No. 6 Vinyl BC.
Recent CBA Proposal Could Favor Rising WNBA Talent
According to Associated Press reporter Doug Feinberg, the league’s latest CBA proposal contains provisions that could benefit younger players still on rookie contracts. One key point is eligibility for maximum salary deals in their fourth season, contingent on selection to All-WNBA teams. This clause would enable Bueckers to become eligible for a maximum contract after her rookie-scale contract ends in 2028.
Other notable young stars, including Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, could also benefit, becoming eligible for maximum deals in 2027 and this season, respectively. Such terms reflect ongoing efforts to improve compensation and conditions for emerging players.
Pressure Mounts as 2026 Season Approaches
With the 2026 WNBA season scheduled to begin on May 8, all parties face increasing pressure to finalize a new collective bargaining agreement. Essential offseason processes such as free agency, the expansion draft, the rookie draft, and training camps require prompt resolution of the CBA talks. The outcome could significantly influence the league’s future operations and the environment in which players like Bueckers, Plum, and others build their careers.
Paige Bueckers airs out her frustration with WNBA CBA negotiations:
"At this point it's not really a negotiation anymore… we as players we don't want to have a strike, we want to have a season." pic.twitter.com/Gpb7AvJ5WS
— Sportico (@Sportico) March 2, 2026
