NEW YORK -- Stalled contract negotiations caused the WNBA to cancel its pre-draft tryout camp Thursday, and next Wednesday's college draft as well as the league's 2003 season may be in jeopardy.

The four-year contract between the league and its players association expired last Sept. 15 and talks for a new one began in November. On Tuesday, the NBA Board of Governors said it would cancel the WNBA season if no deal is in place by April 18.

The league's latest offer is a 3 percent raise for veteran's minimum salaries from $40,000 to $41,200 and a reduction in the minimum for rookies from $30,000 to $25,000. For the top four draft picks, the reduction would be from $55,000 to $40,000.

In addition, the league proposed a hard salary cap of $616,000 for each of the 14 teams, unrestricted free agency for 10-year veterans and restricted free agency for seven-year veterans.

The union is asking for a minimum salary of $48,000 for veterans and $33,000 for rookies with a salary cap of $750,000 per club, unrestricted free agency in the fifth year and restricted free agency in the fourth year.

Val Ackerman, president of the league, said the WNBA is prepared to negotiate around the clock to get a deal done.

"It's up to the players,'' Ackerman said. "The owners are resolute in their proposal. I would hope there is a sense of urgency for all involved.''

Ackerman said the two sides were close on some issues but far apart on others.

"There's still a significant gap on some key fronts,'' she said. "Most importantly, the owners made it clear they need a deal that acknowledges the limitations the WNBA labors under. Our proposal offers modest salary increases. They are not prepared to go beyond that.''

"Our stance has not changed,'' said Sonja Henning of the Houston Comets, president of the union. "We're comfortable and confident that we have bargained in good faith and that a deal can get done.''

Henning thought the league-imposed deadline would help the two sides reach an agreement.

"The deadline is a good thing if it puts a fire under their feet and gets them to bargain in good faith ,'' she said. "We would have liked to have had a deal last year. The process has been slow, much slower than we would have liked. At least we know with a deadline we'll negotiate.

"The players have been united from the beginning. They all know what is going on and where we are. They were told it could be tedious and slow.''

No new talks are scheduled.

The six-year-old league lost two franchises after last season with teams in Miami and Portland folding. Also Utah relocated to San Antonio and Orlando moved to the Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.