The day (CBA October 31st deadline) we have all been waiting for is nearing, but without any clarity on what is next. With coldness between the league and its players growing wide over multiple allegations and a war of words, the fear is that we are heading to a lockout. Similarly, when WNBPA senior advisor Erin Drake was asked if an agreement could be reached in time, she said, “Unfortunately, I’m not confident.” But before the clock runs out, a former NBA star highlighted one issue everyone’s been ignoring! 

Speaking on a recent episode of Courtside Club, Richard Jefferson told Rachel Demita, “I would tell them (players) to trust their instincts… If you’re not happy with the commissioner, that’s another topic, right? Don’t get so fixated on that.” And yes, he’s right. Ever since Napheesa Collier’s exit interview, a new perspective has entered the CBA discussions. It all began when Collier unleashed a fiery four-minute statement aimed directly at WNBA leadership, especially Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

Well, Cathy has to work, keeping everyone in mind: the NBA’s share, the WNBA owners’ share (42% each), and the players. And even if she is the head of the league, most of these decisions aren’t always taken by her, as the NBA has an active role to play in it. But Collier and more have focused more on Cathy. She called out what she described as the league’s “worst leadership in the world.” Her words spread fast, and many WNBA players, owners, media members, and fans rallied behind her, echoing her frustrations.

Now, how could players agree with the same person who’s negotiating on behalf of the league? But that’s not how business works. As Jefferson added, “That is the person (referring to Cathy Engelbert) that works for the league. They’re trying to do what’s best for the owners. You have the head of your players’ association, and they’re trying to do what’s best for the players. And the job is to come together and meet in the middle.”

Simply put, if the WNBPA wants to find common ground, they need to put their frustrations with Cathy aside. The season doesn’t start until spring, but a lockout could delay everything that comes in way. Players would lose access to facilities, and operations like trades could come to a halt. That would ultimately delay the upcoming season, something neither side wants, given the uptick in popularity and the inclusion of two new teams in the upcoming season.

 At this point, any setback could be a serious blow, especially when the W is finally attracting more viewers and sponsors. “Those numbers have also drawn big sponsors, including Delta, Nike, and CarMax. CarMax tells us it is following the developments closely and that it remains focused on the league’s growth and celebrating the athletes who inspire fans,” shared Julia Boorstin, CNBC’s senior media and tech reporter.

And that’s not all. The league also has other projects in progress that could come to a halt – particularly with the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire preparing to debut next season. Both teams recently got their coaches finalized (Toronto got Sandy Brondello, whereas Portland went with Alex Sarama) and now need to hold their drafts before the “super-sized free agency,” which is expected to include all players except those on rookie contracts. So yes, a middle ground is very much needed.

Also, Jefferson’s words carry weight for a reason. He’s a 17-season NBA veteran who even lived through the 2011 lockout. Not just that, he’s been studying labor negotiations since his early days.

As Jefferson shared, “From what I’ve learned, even from watching the early lockouts when I was a kid, that Michael Jordan era, around then in ’99 when I was starting as a freshman in college,” he said during the October 2nd episode of The Road Trippin’ podcast. “I think the more civil these things are, the better they go.” So yes, you simply can’t ignore his message! 

After Cathy, NBA’s Adam Silver pokes the WNBPA, hinting at what he isn’t ready to listen to

Ever since Cathy Engelbert’s comments, the same ones Napheesa Collier recalled, resurfaced, she’s been at odds with almost half the league. That even prompted NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to step in. During his appearance on NBC Sports this week, he said, “Share isn’t the right way to look at it because there’s so much more revenue in the NBA. You should look at absolute numbers in terms of what they’re making, and they are going to get a big increase in this cycle of collective bargaining, and they deserve it.”

But while Silver’s comments were meant to calm tensions, they only fueled them further. The WNBPA accused the league of trying to limit labor costs, and the back-and-forth didn’t stop there. The league later released an official statement claiming that players were exaggerating the issue. Since then, there’s been no official update from either side. Though, according to recent sources, an extension might be on the table.

Does it sound familiar? Well, it should, as it ain’t something new either for the league or the WNBPA. Even though the last collective bargaining agreement expired in 2019, the process wasn’t exactly smooth back then either. The initial deadline that year of October 21 was extended for 60 days until December 31.

And the final deal? It wasn’t implemented until mid-January 2020. But of course, this time things are far more complicated between the two sides. So what do you think – are they holding grudges, or can they finally meet in the middle before time runs out?