WNBA Players Approve CBA: Historic Agreement with Salary Increase

WNBA Players Approve New Labor Agreement

The president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), Nneka Ogwumike, announced this Monday on “First Take” that the WNBA players have voted to ratify the new collective bargaining agreement with the league. According to a statement from the players’ union, more than 90% of the players participated in the ratification vote, with a unanimous result in favor. The terms of the collective bargaining agreement are also subject to the approval of the WNBA Board of Governors. Sources indicated that the vote will be finalized in the coming days.

“This moment is the result of years of work and the shared belief that as the league rises, so too must the players,” the WNBPA stated in a statement. “Too often, women have been told to be grateful for the opportunity. This union sees it differently. It’s about knowing our worth and having the courage to demand more, not just for ourselves, but for those who come after us.”

WNBPA

The WNBA and the WNBPA announced on Friday that they had agreed to a summary of the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement. Under the league’s new revenue sharing model, the first in women’s sports, the salary cap for the 2026 season will be $7 million and will change annually depending on the growth of the league’s and teams’ revenue; it is expected to exceed $10 million by the end of the agreement.

• Increases in maximum and minimum salaries.
• A regular season expanded from 2027.
• Ongoing support for players’ housing.

In a press release on Friday, the WNBA called the seven-year agreement “one of the most transformative labor agreements ever reached in major professional sports.” The agreement paved the way for the 2026 regular season to begin on May 8, as planned.