The WNBA sent a collective bargaining agreement proposal to the players union on Sunday, one day after receiving a proposal from the players, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The exchange comes just days before a March 10 deadline set by the league, which has stated it needs at least a preliminary agreement with the union to begin the season on schedule. The details of the latest proposals from both sides have not been disclosed.

Revenue sharing remains the primary obstacle in negotiations. The union's proposal from the previous week requested an average of 26% of gross revenue over the course of the collective bargaining agreement, including 25% in the first year. The league has characterized this figure as unrealistic, instead offering more than 70% of net revenue in recent proposals, with that percentage increasing as the league grows.

Several prominent players have called for direct negotiations to resolve the impasse. Caitlin Clark suggested at USA Basketball training camp on Saturday that both sides should meet face-to-face until reaching an agreement. "I don't understand why we don't just get in a room and iron it out and shake hands," Clark said.

Union vice president Breanna Stewart endorsed Clark's approach, saying she would be available for in-person negotiations after choosing not to travel with the U.S. team for FIBA World Cup qualifiers next week. "We want the deal to be done. We want to have the season," Stewart said. "We just need to find the right numbers that reflect it."

If an agreement is reached by the March 10 deadline, the deal would likely be signed by month's end. Under this timeline, the expansion draft for new franchises in Portland and Toronto would occur between April 1-6, followed by free agent qualifying offers on April 7-8. The signing period would run from April 12-18, with training camps opening April 19 and the season beginning May 8.