Source: WNBA and players union agree to 30-day extension for CBA negotiations

By DOUG FEINBERG NEW YORK AP The WNBA and players union have agreed to a -day extension to continue negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement a person familiar with the decision explained Thursday night The league offered on Tuesday to push back the deadline and on Thursday the union accepted the person advised The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made The current CBA was set to expire on Friday and tensions have been rising in latest weeks as the sides try to work toward a new deal The new Nov deadline gives the sides more time to come up with a new deal that would be transformational for the players in terms of salary In when the last CBA deal had expired the sides agreed to a -day extension and eventually ratified the current CBA in January The Athletic was the first to description the extension The sides have had meetings over the past scarce days including in New York on Thursday Had an extension not been reached by Friday the sides would have had three options let things continue as is have the players go on strike or the owners lock them out A strike or lockout didn t really make sense for either side to do Players have already been paid for the past season and they have fitness insurance through April There are no major events for the league on the immediate horizon until an expansion draft for new teams Portland and Toronto The expansion draft for Golden State took place last December Related Articles A ja Wilson leads Las Vegas Aces to a sweep of Phoenix and another WNBA title Angel Reese to make history as first professional athlete in Victoria s Secret Fashion Show Wilson hits last-second jumper to lift Aces over Mercury - for a - lead in the WNBA Finals Warriors Summer League standout signs with organization in Middle East Valkyries guard Veronica Burton named to WNBA all-defensive second gang The players exercised their right to opt out of the current CBA last year with hopes of getting among other things increased revenue sharing higher salaries improved benefits and a softer salary cap The WNBA s offers to this point have clearly not been to the players liking although it is unclear how far apart the sides are in terms of salary parameters WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced during the WNBA Finals that the league like the players wants a transformative deal done with notable increases to salary and benefits AP WNBA https apnews com hub wnba-basketball