WNBA: Players Reject Salary Proposal, Negotiations Stalled

WNBPA’s Strong Stance on the WNBA Proposal

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) does not consider the WNBA’s latest collective bargaining agreement proposal to be advancing negotiations, according to sources close to the situation, just ten days before the current agreement expires. The league’s proposal, which includes a revenue-sharing component, would allow players to reach a maximum salary of over $1.1 million, with an average exceeding $460,000 and a minimum of over $220,000. In comparison, the league minimum salary in 2025 was $66,079 and the supermax was $249,244.

The league’s proposal “puts lipstick on a pig and overhauls a system that is not tied to any part of the business and intentionally undervalues the players.”

WNBPA Statement

However, sources indicate that the players’ union does not believe the league’s proposal guarantees sufficient growth in the salary cap and players’ salaries in line with the development of the business, 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 related to revenue, similar to the NBA’s, where the salary cap is determined by basketball-related income (BRI). The league previously stated that it has proposed “significant increases in the guaranteed salary cap and a substantial share of uncapped revenue that allows player salaries to grow as the league’s business does.” The union responded with a statement criticizing the proposal. In the current collective bargaining agreement, 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 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 meeting held as recently as Wednesday.