Ongoing CBA negotiations have further delayed the WNBL free agency period leaving players in limbo

A host of WNBL players, headlined by the legendary Lauren Jackson, have been left in limbo after the free agency period was delayed for a second time in just months. Find out why inside.

Dozens of player’s futures are up in the air. Picture: Getty Images

A host of WNBL players, headlined by the legendary Lauren Jackson, have been left in limbo after the free agency period was delayed for a second time in just months.

The free agency window was planned to open on Friday, but it will be pushed back to June 10 because the eight clubs are yet to sign off on the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

It leaves dozens of off-contract players unable to negotiate in the market without an understanding of their key working conditions, including the salary cap.

Australia’s greatest player – seven-time WNBL champion Jackson – headlines the list of players without a contract heading into the start of the 2024/2025 season in the first week of November.

It remains unclear if the veteran centre, who turns 43 on Saturday, will commit to another WNBL season post this year’s Paris Olympics.

Jackson certainly isn’t letting age slow her down.

Will the ‘GOAT’ play another WNBL season? Picture: Getty Images

The GOAT of Australian basketball continues to dominate the NBL1 competition with her hometown Albury-Wodonga Bandits.

Jackson dropped a remarkable 42 points and added 22 rebounds in the Bandits’ big win over the Maitland Mustangs last round.

This star form is why Southside Flyers officials are refusing to rule out the Hall of Famer returning for another season.

Jackson, who led the Flyers to the championship with a 2-1 grand final series victory over the Perth Lynx in March, is playing NBL1 for Albury in preparation for her fifth Olympics in Paris.

Southside has a large chunk of its squad off-contract, a club spokesman confirmed.

NBL Owner Larry Kestelman is in the mix to take up a slice of the women’s competition. Picture: Linda Higginson/Tasmania JackJumpers

This masthead also contacted the Sydney Flames about its off-contract players, but the club couldn’t provide names due to the uncertainty surrounding the free agency period.

Across the WNBL, all eight teams have at least half a dozen players looking to secure a new deal ahead of the 2024/25 season.

It comes as Basketball Australia continues to push forward on its bid to sell the league’s controlling rights to cashed-up investors.

NBL boss Larry Kestelman, Tesla Australia boss Robyn Denholm and Southside owner and Jayco head honcho Gerry Ryan are all in the mix to take up a slice of the WNBL.

If the repeated delays in the free agency window is anything to go by, the need for serious change in the WNBL can’t come soon enough.

Clubs and players are equally frustrated and believe the oldest domestic female sporting competition in Australia deserves better.

Originally published as Ongoing CBA negotiations have further delayed the WNBL free agency period leaving players in limbo