WNBA Proposal: Higher Salary and Revenue Sharing on the Table
The WNBA has presented a new collective bargaining proposal that promises significant changes in the salary landscape and revenue distribution for players. A source confirmed that the proposal includes a revenue-sharing system and a maximum salary that would exceed $1.1 million, available to more than one player per team, with annual increases.
WNBA executives briefed the board on the details of the proposal during meetings this week. According to the source, the new league minimum salary would exceed $220,000, with an average exceeding $460,000.
These numbers would come into effect in the first year of the agreement for more than 180 players and would increase over the duration of the collective bargaining agreement, according to the source.
The current collective bargaining agreement was set to expire on October 31st, but the WNBA and the players’ union agreed to extend negotiations until November 30th, allowing more time to negotiate an agreement that could be revolutionary for players in terms of salary.
The players exercised their right to opt out of continuing with the current collective bargaining agreement last year, hoping to obtain, among other things, a greater distribution of revenue, higher salaries, better benefits, and a more flexible salary cap. When the last collective bargaining agreement expired in 2019, both parties agreed to a 60-day extension, with a collective bargaining agreement that was finally ratified in January 2020.
