WNBA: Players reject agreement proposal, salaries in the spotlight

Firm Stance of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) on WNBA Proposal

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the latest collective bargaining agreement proposal presented by the WNBA, according to sources close to the negotiations. Just ten days before the expiration of the current agreement, the WNBPA believes that the offer does not advance the negotiations. The league’s proposal, which had already been reported, includes a revenue-sharing component that, added to the base salary, would allow players to reach a maximum salary exceeding $1.1 million, with an average of more than $460,000 and a minimum exceeding $220,000. In comparison, the league’s minimum salary in 2025 was $66,079 and the supermax was $249,244. However, sources indicate that the players’ union does not see in the proposal a system that guarantees the adequate growth of the salary cap and the players’ salaries in line with the development of the business, a key demand since they chose not to renew the current agreement in October 2024. The players are seeking a salary system that is more directly based on revenue, similar to what happens in the NBA, where the salary cap is determined by basketball-related income (BRI).

“Putting makeup on a pig and recycling a system that is not linked to any part of the business and that intentionally undervalues the players.”

Union statement

In the current collective bargaining agreement, the salary cap increased annually at a fixed rate of 3%, reaching $1,507,100 in 2025, and a separate revenue-sharing provision provided for direct payments to the players if the league reached certain revenue targets. This component has not yet been activated during the term of the agreement. Last month, both parties agreed to a 30-day extension, until November 30, of the current collective agreement, although both parties can terminate the agreement with 48 hours’ notice. The league and the union have continued negotiating in recent weeks, with a meeting held on Wednesday.