Some fights are about more than money; they’re about respect. With March 10th set as the deadline to reach an agreement on a new CBA, the WNBPA and the WNBA have less than a week to find common ground. And the players’ union vice president, Alysha Clark, has made it clear that the players are prepared to use every tool available to secure what they believe they deserve.

So while speaking on ESPN’s NBA Today, Alysha Clark pointed directly to the survey and said, “I think it just continues to illustrate what the majority feels. We’re at a place where we feel like the proposals the league has sent haven’t been good ones. And we want to continue to fight for what we know we deserve. We hope that at some point the league decides to have that same sentiment towards us as well through the proposals that they send.”

The divide over that structure has not only stalled negotiations but also recently sparked internal conversations.

Earlier this week, concerns were raised about the negotiation process and player involvement in the talks. In response, the union held a call with players to address those issues and clarify its approach moving forward.

Those discussions come at a critical time.

The 2026 season is scheduled to tip off on May 8, but first, both sides must agree to a term sheet by March 10. Without a finalized CBA, the league calendar itself hangs in the balance. With that timeline tightening, the union has signaled it is prepared to escalate if progress remains stalled.

Clark further added, “As a union, we’re going to use every tool that we have in our pocket to be able to fight and get what we know we deserve. So (strike) is very much still on the table, and that is something that I think is clear as we continue to have these conversations with our union and the players in the league.”

Calendar Pressure Builds as Players Address Internal Questions

With the deadline fast approaching, the implications stretch far beyond the negotiation table.

The league still has to conduct a college draft, which is scheduled to take place on April 13th, navigate free agency involving more than 80% of its players, and prepare for expansion-related logistics. However, for now, each of those milestones faces uncertainty.

The internal discussions have added another layer of complexity to an already time-sensitive process.

However, veteran guard Lexie Brown publicly pushed back on the idea of widespread division, writing on Threads that “we (the players who decide to get on the calls) speak to the PA and are updated often,” adding that she is “extremely well informed and prepared for any situation that comes from these negotiations.”

For now, negotiations continue behind closed doors. But as draft day, free agency, and expansion planning draw closer, time, as much as revenue, may ultimately determine how this standoff unfolds.