The Women’s National Basketball Association and its Players Association are inching closer to a collective bargaining agreement, now two days past their self-imposed deadline.
The parties have been meeting around the clock at a midtown hotel in New York City, with negotiations stretching into the late morning hours to hammer out a deal, according to a person familiar with the process, who was not authorized to speak publicly. In the last 48 hours, there have been eight proposals exchanged between both sides addressing nearly every issue up for discussion, the person said.
The negotiations come as women’s sports have seen major financial growth from bigger media deals and strong demand.
The WNBA previously said the new CBA would need to be in place by March 10 in order to start their season on time. Negotiations between continued Thursday. It’s unclear what the delay will mean for the scheduled season start.
WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike told reporters late Wednesday that players are “feeling movement” in the talks. The Players Association said it has been and will continue to be fully engaged in the negotiations.
