WNBA: Players Reject Salary Proposal, Negotiations Stalled

WNBA Negotiations: League’s Proposal Doesn’t Satisfy Players

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. With only ten days until the expiration of the current agreement, talks appear stalled. 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 minimum salary in 2025 was $66,079, while the supermax reached $249,244. However, sources indicate that the players’ union does not believe that the league’s proposal ensures adequate growth of the salary cap and players’ salaries in relation to the growth of the business. This has been a constant demand from the players since they chose not to renew the current collective bargaining agreement in October 2024.

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).

WNBPA Statement

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 a mere “cosmetic improvement” of a system that is not tied to the business and intentionally undervalues the players. 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 achieved 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 collective agreement, 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.