TIME TO PLAY THE (WAITING) GAME!!

The deadline for the latest WNBA collective bargaining agreement extension came and went. As expected, no agreement was reached between the league and the Players’ Association. After the deadline passed, the league and PA released statements noting that they’re continuing to work to reach the best outcome. We’re entering uncharted waters, so what comes next?

For now, we’re entering a “status quo” period. That means the conditions set forth in the most recent CBA remain in place while both sides continue negotiating a new contract.

There remains the chance of a strike being called by the PA or the league initiating a lockout, but that appears unlikely at this point in time.

With things supposedly operating as usual, the league office wanted teams to prepare for free agency like they normally would. Sending out qualifying offers, core designations, and everything else that comes with a regular WNBA off-season.

Now you’re probably asking yourself, “What is there to offer or sign when no one even knows what the salary cap will look like?” You, dear reader, are not alone! As Alexa Philippou of ESPN reports:

It is widely expected that players would not want to sign contracts while a new salary system, with massive expected increases in compensation, is still being bargained over.

And on Monday afternoon, the obvious became reality

With a moratorium on free agency, the league and the PA can solely focus on ironing out a new CBA.

In a perfect world, an agreement would have been reached months ago so the league could get to incorporating its new expansion teams. However, this is the world we have, and we’ve got to wait until something gets done.

When it comes to the actual business of the CBA, the league is reportedly looking to offer players net revenue, while players are seeking 30 percent of gross revenue. In layman’s terms, net is what’s left after all the taxes and the like are paid for, whereas the gross is the money that’s there before certain deductions are made.

There's too much at stake for the WNBA to miss games and stall their momentum. It’s up to the league to offer a CBA that allows players to reap the rewards of their hard work while also securing the league's future. There's still time, but we don't have forever.

ANOTHER BIG SHAKEUP

Here’s the latest in the AP’s Top 25 rankings:

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9

COLLEGE BASKETBALL HONORS AN ICON

Pat Summitt is one of the greatest coaches in basketball history. The legend won eight national championships and made the NCAA Tournament every season in her 30-year career. Beyond the excellence on the court, the support and love Summitt showed for women’s basketball has left a mark on the people she crossed paths with.

"Champion coach, champion individual for women's basketball," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said.

To honor Summitt, teams across the nation are hosting games as part of “We Back Pat Week.” The games represent a chance to help the Pat Summitt Foundation in its quest to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. It also gives us a chance to see some of the game’s very best shine on a big stage. And on Sunday,

In the January 9 edition of the Women’s Basketball Roundup, we discussed the recent troubles LSU has been going through. The Tigers lost their first two games against ranked opponents, and there were questions as to the group’s toughness and ability to reach another level against elite competition.

They faced their toughest test against No. 2 Texas on Sunday afternoon and were on the receiving end of a Madison Booker scoring barrage in the fourth quarter.

Fortunately for the Baton Rouge faithful, Mikalya Williams was up to the challenge and led LSU to their first win against a Top-2 team since 2008. LSU is off before another tough matchup, this time on the road against Oklahoma.

Texas has a primetime matchup against No. 2 South Carolina on January 15. More on that in the next edition of the WBB Roundup.

Later in the afternoon, we witnessed another elite SEC matchup, this time between Oklahoma and Kentucky. Fresh off her game-winner against LSU last week, senior guard Tonie Morgan played all 40 minutes as she and her teammates made things difficult on the Oklahoma duo of Aaliyah Chavez and Raegan Beers. Kentucky’s win cemented their spot in the Top 5 for the first time since December 2013.

Pat Summitt is one of the most important figures in basketball history. She inspired generations and left behind a legacy that is still being felt.

As the game continues to grow, it’s beautiful to see an icon be honored and have great basketball played in her honor.

NATASHA CLOUD GETS TO WORK

2025 was a busy year for Natasha Cloud. The former WNBA champion was traded twice in the span of a few months as she went from Phoenix → Connecticut → New York. While on the Liberty, she battled through a fractured nose as she did her best to help an injury-ravaged New York team try to defend its 2024 WNBA championship.

And for Cloud, she was even more banged up than she let on as she reportedly underwent a left knee arthroscopy following the end of the Liberty’s season. She’s back at full strength and is back in Unrivaled.

In three games for the Phantom, Cloud has made eight three-pointers and handed out 13 assists while committing only five turnovers. Cloud has been in the WNBA top 10 in assists since 2018 and is an elite decision-maker.

Three-point shooting has been a weakness, but she did have the second-highest percentage of her career in 2025. She'll be someone who draws a lot of attention in free agency.

In the meantime, Unrivaled is a perfect environment for her to get better as a player, as well as a place where players get top-tier support.

“We have a place here that will keep us, will house us year-round, we have facilities year-round, we have, in a lot of ways, more resources,” Cloud told Madeline Kenney of the New York Post.

“If anything, I think Unrivaled puts good pressure on the W to make a decision because if not, we have other leagues that are willing to invest in us and pay us damn near what you are paying us.”

Having options is a blessing. Unrivaled offers top-tier basketball along with top-tier pay. As the WNBA continues to sort out its business, leagues like this serve as a lifeline for players and fans alike.

At Black Rosie Media, we love to give flowers to other writers and creators in the women’s basketball community.

Here’s what we’re reading:

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