WNBPA’s Strong Stance 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 negotiation. Just ten days before the expiration of the current agreement, the association’s position suggests that the proposal does not advance negotiations significantly.
The league’s proposal, which had already been announced, includes a revenue sharing component. This, along with a base salary, would allow players to reach a maximum salary of over $1.1 million, an average of over $460,000, and a minimum of over $220,000.
In 2025, the league minimum salary was $66,079 and the supermax was $249,244.
The players’ union believes that the league’s proposal does not guarantee adequate growth of the salary cap and the players’ salaries in line with the development of the business.
The players are seeking a salary system more directly linked to revenue, similar to the NBA, where the salary cap is determined by basketball-related income (BRI).
The league has stated that its proposal includes “significant guaranteed increases in the salary cap and a substantial revenue sharing without a cap that allows player salaries to grow as the league’s business expands.” The union responded that the proposal “masks a system that is not tied to any part of the business and intentionally undervalues the players.”
In the current collective bargaining agreement, the salary cap increased annually at a fixed rate (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 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 to negotiate in recent weeks, with a meeting held on Wednesday.
