WNBA Players Association Stands Firm in CBA Negotiations
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the latest collective bargaining agreement (CBA) proposal presented by the WNBA, according to sources close to the negotiations. With only ten days until the expiration of the current CBA, talks appear stalled. The league’s proposal, which had already been previously disclosed, includes a revenue-sharing component. This, combined with a base salary, would allow players to reach a maximum salary exceeding $1.1 million, an average of more than $460,000, and a minimum of more than $220,000. It is important to note that, in 2025, the league’s minimum salary was $66,079, while the supermaximum was $249,244. However, sources indicate that the players’ union believes the league’s proposal does not guarantee adequate growth of the salary cap and players’ salaries in relation to the league’s economic performance. This has been a key demand of the players since they chose not to renew the current CBA in October 2024.Previously, the league had stated that its proposal included “significant guaranteed increases in the salary cap and a substantial revenue sharing without a cap that allows players’ salaries to grow as the league’s business does.” The union responded with a statement that described the proposal as “putting lipstick on a pig and recycling a system that is not tied to any part of the business and intentionally undervalues the players.” In the current CBA, the salary cap increased annually at a fixed rate (3%), reaching $1,507,100 in 2025, and a separate revenue sharing provision provided for direct payments to players if the league reached certain revenue targets. This component has not yet been activated during the term of the agreement. Last month, both sides agreed to a 30-day extension, until November 30, of the current CBA, although both sides can terminate the agreement with 48 hours’ notice. The league and the union have continued to negotiate in recent weeks, with a recent meeting on Wednesday.The players do not want a fixed salary system, but one that is more directly linked to revenue, similar to what happens in the NBA, where the salary cap is determined by basketball-related income (BRI).
Sources close to the negotiations
