It’s unlikely that the WNBA will have a new collective bargaining agreement in place before the deal expires Friday.

That doesn’t mean a lockout is imminent. The WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association have ratified new CBAs with the help of an extension before.

The league has requested a 30-day extension to continue talks beyond Friday, according to multiple reports. But a contentious standoff may be on the way given the tone of some public comments from players.

“It’s going to be a battle,” said Aces guard Chelsea Gray, the team’s WNBPA representative, on Oct. 14. “There’s no league without players. There’s nothing you can do without the players, to me.”

Two extensions were needed to complete the current CBA, which was agreed to Jan. 14, 2020.

The CBA was set to

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