WNBA: CBA Negotiations at a Critical Point
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 situation. With only ten days until the current agreement expires, negotiations are at a crucial moment. The league’s proposal, which had already been reported, includes a revenue-sharing component that, combined with a base salary, would allow players to reach a maximum salary of over $1.1 million. The average salary would be more than $460,000, and the minimum, over $220,000. In 2025, the league minimum salary was $66,079, while the supermax reached $249,244. However, the players’ union believes that the league’s proposal does not guarantee adequate growth of the salary cap and players’ salaries in relation to the development of the business, a key demand since the current CBA was terminated in October 2024.Previously, the league had stated that its proposal included “significant increases in the guaranteed salary cap and substantial revenue sharing without limits, allowing player salaries to grow as the league’s business expands.” The union responded that the proposal was a mere “facade” and reiterated 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 of 3%, reaching $1,507,100 in 2025. In addition, a separate revenue sharing provision provided for direct payments to players if the league reached certain revenue targets. However, 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 rather one 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).
source close to the negotiation
