Tempo and Fire expansion drafts could be derailed by WNBA CBA negotiations

WNBA players and league leadership are currently negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), with discussions intensifying during the recent All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis. The outcome of these negotiations will significantly impact revenue sharing, player salaries, benefits, and crucially, whether the planned expansion drafts for the new Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire teams occur this year.

The rules governing expansion drafts are part of the CBA. Since the existing 2020 CBA expires at the end of October, failure to reach a new agreement means the expansion drafts for Toronto and Portland likely cannot take place this calendar year. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert confirmed this link before the All-Star Game, stating the expansion draft rules are "collectively bargained" and expressing hope the process would finish in time for the drafts.

Negotiations appear strained. The players' union (WNBPA) sent their initial CBA proposal in February, but the league did not respond until June, just before the All-Star break. WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike noted players even sent a follow-up proposal in February before receiving the league's delayed response. Star player Breanna Stewart characterized a recent negotiation meeting as "a wasted opportunity," highlighting a significant gap between proposals: "Based on their most recent proposal, we just aren't able to get to a place where we're actually even talking about the same thing... our first offer and then their counter was, like, black and white."

Delayed expansion drafts could potentially lead to a delayed season, especially if players opt for a strike next year. Theoretically, the Tempo and Fire expansion drafts are slated for December. Any delay poses challenges for the league, which has emphasized expansion as key to its future, and for the new teams already building fan bases without rosters or, in Portland's case, a permanent president.