Kelsey Plum, first vice president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, says the WNBA’s latest collective bargaining proposal marks meaningful progress amid tense negotiations.

Speaking in Brooklyn, Plum described the league’s offer — which introduces revenue sharing for the first time — as a “significant win” for players, while cautioning against a strike in the current climate.

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association opted out of its previous agreement nearly 17 months ago, triggering extended talks with the WNBA over salary structures and revenue distribution.

At the heart of the dispute is revenue sharing, with players seeking 30% of gross income, while the league has proposed 70% of net revenue after expenses.

Union leaders argue the league’s model would amount to less than 15% of gross revenue, a figure they have publicly challenged as insufficient.

Plum, however, emphasized that securing any framework tying salaries to league growth is a breakthrough, calling it a “tremendous win” compared to past agreements.

Although the union’s executive committee has been authorized to call a strike if necessary, Plum warned that industrial action would halt income entirely under a revenue-sharing system.

“You can continue to negotiate without striking,” she said, underscoring that players want to compete when the regular season tips off May 8.

The league has set a March 10 target for a term sheet, increasing pressure on both sides to reach common ground before the season schedule is affected.

Plum said her focus remains on long-term gains rather than short-term gaps, framing the negotiations as part of the broader evolution of women’s professional basketball and labor rights in sports.