Business
As WNBA labor deadline nears, players union is ‘frustrated’ by lack of progress
The WNBA Players Association executive director told CNBC she remains “frustrated” by the lack of progress toward a new collective bargaining agreement as the league’s new deadline to reach a deal approaches.
“We’re a little frustrated with where we are right now, but we are holding to our principles,” Terri Jackson, executive director of the WNBPA, told CNBC Sport in an interview. “We’re staying open to the fact that these negotiations will continue, because they must. We’ll be at the table for as long as they take, and we’re hopeful that there’s enough folks on the team side of things that will start to push these things along.”
Jackson told CNBC Sport she continues to negotiate with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, her counterpart in the talks, on a new labor deal for the league. The CBA, or labor contract, between the WNBA and its players expired on Oct. 31, but the deadline to strike a new agreement was extended to Jan. 9 when the sides failed to reach a deal.
WNBA players are looking for significant pay increases to get a bigger cut of the league’s revenue growth. The WNBA signed a media rights deal last year that amounted to a sixfold increase in revenue. The league and its players have been actively negotiating for months over issues related to salaries, benefits, working conditions and revenue sharing.
Jackson declined to mention specifics about where the negotiations have stalled, citing her nondisclosure agreement, but added, “Everything seems to still be a sticking point.”
A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against the Phoenix Mercury during Game 4 of the 2025 WNBA Finals at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Oct. 10, 2025.
Mike Lawrence | National Basketball Association | Getty Images
The WNBA’s latest proposal to the union includes increasing the maximum salary to $1 million per season, with revenue sharing that could push that number to more than $1.2 million, according to a person familiar with the matter. The current supermax contract is just under $250,000 a year.
The new proposal would also increase the average annual salary to more than $500,000, with the league minimum projected to be over $225,000, said the person. Currently, the league minimum is just over $66,000.
As part of the proposed revenue sharing agreement, players would see pay increases built in each year. The terms of the revenue sharing have been a point of contention in the talks. The WNBPA recently proposed that players receive 30% of total league and team revenue, or more than double what the league proposed, The Athletic reported.
Jackson, who is spearheading negotiations on behalf of the players, said that despite the frustrations, the union remains hopeful that it can get a deal done before the imposed deadline.
“It’s hard for us to understand why we are so far apart on the things that we should be closer to that should be so easy, but it seems as though at times, the league and the team come into the negotiating room with a mentality that pay equity is optional, and pay equity is not optional,” Jackson said.
Jackson emphasized that she’s working hard to get a deal done by Jan. 9.
“Will there be another extension? There shouldn’t be another extension,” she said. “There doesn’t need to be another extension. We understand their position and point of view. They understand our position and point of view.”
As the WNBA enjoys record growth in television ratings, attendance and sponsorship, the one thing that could stall that momentum would be a work stoppage if the sides cannot come to terms, Jackson said. Several WNBA stars have already expressed their desire to avoid any missed games. The WNBA season begins in May 2026.
Engelbert said in October that the league wants to avoid a lockout.
“Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Nneka Ogwumike and Napheesa Collier … have all said that and that a work stoppage would be catastrophic,” Jackson said. “Nobody wants to see that happen.”
Mahindra’s New Tata Sierra Rival SUV: Mahindra has several new models lined up, including petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric SUVs across various segments. One of the most talked-about upcoming products is a new midsize SUV that will take on the Hyundai Creta and Tata Sierra. Mahindra has not officially shared product details yet. Still, this new SUV is expected to carry the XUV badge. It will likely be built on Mahindra’s new NU_IQ modular platform. This platform supports ICE, hybrid and electric powertrains. That gives the brand a lot of flexibility for future models.
Reports suggest this Sierra rival could be the production version of the Vision S concept. Mahindra showcased this concept on Independence Day earlier this year. Some reports also hint that the final model might join the Scorpio family lineup.
The Vision S concept has a bold design. At the front, it gets Mahindra’s Twin Peaks logo and triple vertical LED lights on either side. The headlamps have an inverted L shape. The bumper looks sporty and houses radar and parking sensors. A raised bonnet and pixel-style fog lamps add to the tough look.
From the side, the SUV looks off-road ready. It has a tall stance, massive cladding and wheel arches, and large 19-inch wheels with red brake calipers. The concept even shows a jerry can and a side ladder. Some of these features may not make it to the final version or could be offered as accessories.
At the rear, the concept gets inverted L-shaped tail-lamps, pixel lighting on the bumper and a spare wheel mounted on the tailgate. Inside, the Vision S shows a modern cabin. It has a new steering wheel with Vision S branding, a large touchscreen with NU UX software, wireless phone connectivity and a panoramic sunroof.
The cabin uses dual-tone upholstery across seats, doors and dashboard. The visible fuel cap suggests an ICE setup. The production version is expected to come with petrol and diesel engine options. Mahindra’s new Sierra rival is likely to hit the market around 2027.
AI technology and gaming launches have helped drive higher sales for electronics retailer Currys, which also hailed a recovery of its Nordics arm.
The company said its financial performance was improving despite a “muted” consumer environment and “unhelpful” cost pressures.
It reported revenues totalling £4.2 billion for the six months to November, up 4% when compared like-for-like with the same period last year.
Adjusted pre-tax profits more than doubled to £22 million year-on-year.
In the UK and Ireland, where Currys has almost 300 shops, computing was the strongest category for sales with AI technology and new games leading the charge.
It also highlighted surging demand for smaller categories like gaming accessories, emerging technology like health and beauty innovations, and a 12% jump in the sale of Windows laptops.
Mobile products sold well over the half-year, with its mobile network brand iD increasing its share of the wider market, the firm said.
But it reported a dip in the sale of consumer electronics, including TVs and speakers, which the retailer attributed to there being a spike in demand last year during the men’s Euro 2024 football tournament.
Chief executive Alex Baldock said it was “pleasing that strong top-line growth is translating into improved profitability”.
But he added: “In the UK and Ireland, the consumer environment is more muted, and cost headwinds are unhelpful.”
Currys said profits in the UK were being weighed down by increases to the national minimum wage and employer national insurance contributions, from last year’s autumn budget.
These cost increases were not being fully offset by savings it has been striving to make across the business.
Nevertheless, Currys hailed an improved performance for its Nordics arm after launching a turnaround for the struggling business.
Revenues increased by 4% on a like-for-like basis for the region, which has more than 400 stores both owned and franchised, and earnings grew.
Shares in Currys jumped by about a 10th in early trading on Thursday.
Archie MitchellBusiness reporter
ReutersBP has appointed a new chief executive, making Meg O’Neill the first woman to run a major global oil firm.
The London-based energy giant said its current boss Murray Auchincloss would step down less than two years after he replaced Bernard Looney, who was found to have committed “serious misconduct” in failing to disclose relationships with colleagues.
BP executive vice president Carol Howle will serve as interim chief executive until Ms O’Neill, who has led Australian energy firm Woodside Energy since 2021, takes up her new role on 1 April.
Ms O’Neill said she looks forward to helping BP “do our part to meet the world’s energy needs”.
Mr Auchincloss, who took over from Mr Looney in September 2024, said he had told BP’s chairman in September that he was open to stepping down “were an appropriate leader identified”.
“I am confident that BP is now well positioned for significant growth and I look forward to watching the company’s future progress,” he said after Ms O’Neill’s appointment was announced. He will serve in an advisory role until December 2026.
Ms O’Neill said she would prioritise re-establishing the oil giant’s market leadership, as well as advancing safety and driving innovation and sustainability.
BP praised Ms O’Neill’s time as chief executive of Woodside Energy, pointing to the firm’s takeover of BHP Petroleum International in 2022.
It said she had grown the business into the largest energy company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Before joining Woodside, Ms O’Neill spent 23 years in technical, operational and leadership positions at Texas-based energy firm ExxonMobil.
Mr Looney was dismissed without notice in 2023, and forfeited up to £32.4m ($43.3m) in salary and benefits, after admitting that he was not “fully transparent” about his past personal relationships.
BP’s board said they had been “knowingly misled” by Mr Looney.
At the time, Mr Looney said in a statement that he was “disappointed with the way this situation has been handled”.
Ms O’Neill’s appointment comes as BP is cutting its renewable energy investments and instead focusing on increasing oil and gas production.
In February, the energy giant said it would shift its strategy following pressure from some investors who were frustrated that its profits and share price had lagged behind rivals.
Rivals Shell and Norwegian company Equinor have also scaled back plans to invest in green energy and US President Donald Trump’s call to “drill baby drill” has encouraged firms to invest in fossil fuels.
The sudden departure of Mr Auchincloss comes only three months after the appointment of a new chair of the BP board, Albert Manifold.
Energy consultant and former Shell executive Robin Mills told the BBC’s Today programme that the “surprise” appointment of Ms O’Neill was about refocusing on its core oil and gas businesses.
“The new chairman, Albert Manifold, has really decided to put his stamp on things,” he said.
“I think the announcement that’s been put here made it very clear that he felt Murray [Auchincloss] had done a decent job, but not enough and more was needed and some new leadership, some new blood.”
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