WNBA and Players Union Agree on New Seven-Year Collective Bargaining Agreement

THE NEW CBA: A BREAKTHROUGH DEAL FOR THE WNBA

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) have reached a verbal agreement on a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The deal, concluded early Wednesday morning after over 100 hours of in-person negotiations across eight days, is projected to significantly increase player compensation and includes a new revenue-sharing model.

The agreement requires formalization into a term sheet and ratification by both the league's Board of Governors and a majority of voting players. The 2026 WNBA season is scheduled to begin on May 8 as planned.

"This is a transformative step forward for both players and the league."

Key Financial Terms

The new CBA introduces several financial benchmarks, representing a substantial increase from the previous agreement.

• Salary Cap: The team salary cap will increase to $7 million for the 2026 season, up from approximately $1.5 million. Some reports indicate the cap will start at this figure and increase in alignment with league revenue.
• Supermax Salary: The supermax contract value is set at 20 percent of the salary cap, equivalent to $1.4 million in the first year. This marks the first time in league history that players will earn annual salaries exceeding $1 million.
• Minimum Salary: The minimum player salary will rise to $300,000, an increase from $66,079 in 2025.
• Revenue Sharing: Players will receive an average of 20 percent of league revenue over the life of the deal, up from the previous 9.3 percent. This represents the first time player salaries will be directly tied to a share of league revenue.

Negotiation Background

Negotiations spanned 17 months following the players' opt-out of the previous agreement in October 2024.

• Duration: The final phase included eight consecutive days of intensive in-person negotiations, totaling over 100 hours. The final session concluded at approximately 2:20 a.m. Wednesday.
• Participants: WNBPA executive committee members Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Brianna Turner, and Alysha Clark attended. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, New York Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai, and Connecticut Sun president Jennifer Rizzotti were also present.
• Proposals Exchanged: Eight proposals were exchanged between the two parties during the process.
• Previous Sticking Points: Key issues that prolonged negotiations included the revenue-sharing model, player housing provisions, the use of franchise (core) tags on players, and the players' ability to audit league and team expenses.
• Revenue Transparency: The agreement requires the league to be transparent about its financial records.

Reactions from Key Parties

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert described the agreement as a "transformative step forward" for both players and the league.

WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike stated that player salaries are now tied to a meaningful share of league revenue, which is expected to drive exponential growth in the salary cap and overall compensation. She characterized the agreement as "historical for women's sports."

Union Vice President Breanna Stewart described the deal as "transformational" and designed to create a system where players receive appropriate compensation and support.

Union Executive Committee Member Alysha Clark indicated that the opt-out occurred because player contributions were not adequately reflected in compensation, despite observed league growth.

2026 Season Timeline

With the agreement in principle, the league has a compressed two-month schedule leading up to the season.

• April: Expansion draft for new franchises in Portland (Fire) and Toronto (Tempo).
• April 13: Scheduled date for the WNBA college draft.
• April 19: Training camps are scheduled to begin.
• May 8: The regular season is scheduled to tip off, marking the league's 30th season.

Franchise Tags & Free Agency

Following the ratification of the new CBA, free agency commenced, with teams issuing franchise (core) designations to several players.

More than 80 percent of the league's veteran players are free agents this year.

Players Receiving Core Designations:
Sabrina Ionescu (New York), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota), Kelsey Plum (Los Angeles), Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana), Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas), Allisha Gray (Atlanta), Ariel Atkins (Chicago), and Ezi Magbegor (Seattle).

• Expansion Teams: Portland Fire designated Bridget Carleton, and Toronto Tempo designated Marina Mabrey.
• Tag Value: The core designation guarantees a one-year deal at the supermax salary of $1.4 million.
• Negotiation Period: The designation period began on Monday, with negotiations scheduled from Wednesday through Friday, and player signings permitted to begin on Saturday.
• Restrictions: Starting in 2027, the core designation will be limited to twice per player and only applicable to players with fewer than seven years of league experience.

Additional Agreement Provisions

The new CBA includes improvements in areas beyond direct financial compensation, including enhanced facility standards, housing provisions, retirement benefits, and expanded resources for family planning and parental leave.