The WNBA and players' union log 12-hour marathon talks to avoid delaying start of the season

The WNBA and players union met for nearly 12 hours trying to get a new collective bargaining agreement deal done to start the upcoming season on time

The WNBA and players union met for nearly 12 hours trying to get a new collective bargaining agreement deal done to start the upcoming season on time.

Union executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson said early Wednesday, 10 hours after the negotiations started, that there were "a lot of conversations going in the right direction."

Jackson said that those conversations would continue.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert came out of the hotel where negotiations were being held at 5 a.m. EDT to briefly talk to reporters.

"It's complex, but we're working towards a win-win deal like we've been saying, transformational deal for these players. That balances all the things we've been trying to balance with continued investment by our owners," she said. "So, we're working hard towards that and still have work to do."