The WNBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations are heating up, and it seems the players' association is making some significant adjustments to their demands.
A major development in the ongoing talks between the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) and the WNBA has emerged, with the players' union reportedly submitting a revised proposal that includes concessions. This crucial update comes from a source close to the situation who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity, as they are not authorized to discuss the sensitive negotiations publicly.
This latest move signifies a shift in the WNBPA's strategy, as they responded to the WNBA's own proposal submitted on February 7th. In their most recent offer, the players' union is now seeking 25% of the league's gross revenue in the initial year of the agreement. This percentage is slated to increase over the life of the contract, aiming for an average of approximately 27.5%. Furthermore, the WNBPA has proposed a salary cap of less than $9.5 million.
But here's where it gets interesting: this new revenue share percentage is a step back from their December proposal, where they had initially asked for a more ambitious 30% of gross revenue. For context, the WNBA's current offer hovers around more than 70% of league and team net revenue, with a proposed salary cap of $5.65 million per year, designed to grow alongside league revenues.
And this is the part most people miss: The WNBPA's latest proposal also addresses player housing, advocating for it to continue during the early stages of a player's career. The idea is that housing provisions could be phased out in later years of a contract, particularly for players earning a certain amount on multi-year, fully guaranteed deals. This shows a nuanced approach to player support, acknowledging career progression.
Previously, in the WNBA's February 7th proposal, there was a concession on team-provided housing. The revised agreement outlined that players earning the minimum salary would have access to one-bedroom apartments, and two developmental players on each roster would receive studio apartments. The players' union also pushed for standardized team facilities, which would be formally written into the new CBA, according to the source.
The WNBA, however, has voiced concerns. In a statement, they declared the Players Association's latest proposal to be "unrealistic" and projected it would lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in losses for their teams. They emphasized the urgency, noting that with two Drafts and free agency still to occur before training camp, time is running out. The league maintains that their own proposal would be a "huge win" for both current players and future generations.
Another individual with knowledge of the negotiations shared that the players' union's proposal could result in an estimated $460 million in losses for WNBA teams over the agreement's duration. This perspective highlights the critical need for a deal that benefits both players and teams to ensure sustained investment and growth within the league.
On the financial front, the WNBA's offer includes a maximum base salary of $1 million, with a projected revenue-sharing component that could boost players' total earnings to over $1.3 million in 2026. The maximum salary is expected to climb to nearly $2 million by the agreement's conclusion in 2031. For those just starting out, the minimum salary would exceed $250,000, with an average salary projected to be over $530,000.
The league is also proposing a substantial upgrade to existing rookie scale contracts. For instance, the first pick in the 2023 draft, Aliyah Boston, would see her 2026 salary jump to over $541,000.
Beyond finances and housing, the WNBA has also agreed to several other improvements, including new minimum facility standards, enhanced team staffing, codified charter flight travel, increased performance bonuses, greater 401(k) contributions, and salary cap exceptions for injured and pregnant players.
Despite these advancements, a sense of urgency persists within the players' union. They are eager to secure a "transformational deal" and avoid "negotiating against themselves." To that end, the union has proposed dates for in-person meetings with the league.
The regular season is slated to kick off on May 8th. However, before that, the league must navigate expansion drafts for the new Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire teams, followed by free agency and the 2026 WNBA draft.
It's worth remembering that in December, WNBA players granted their union's executive committee the authority to "call a strike when necessary."
WNBPA vice president Breanna Stewart recently expressed cautious optimism, stating, "I'm feeling better. I'm feeling like the owners are finally really acknowledging and being receptive of what we want and the players as well." She added, "I'm hoping we can get this thing done quickly so then we're not late [to start the 2026 season]. That's the thing. It's like I've been telling them, is ― now that we're a part of a revenue-shared model, you miss games, it's less money. Not to say that we should submit and just say yes to any proposal that we don't like, but this is a business now. This is how businesses go."
What do you think? Are the WNBPA's concessions a sign of progress, or are they giving up too much too soon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
