WNBA: Salary Proposal Disappoints Players, Negotiation Stalled

Strong Stance of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association on the 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. Sources close to the situation revealed that the WNBPA does not believe this proposal significantly advances negotiations, with only ten days remaining until the expiration of the current agreement. 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 of more than $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. However, sources indicate that the WNBPA is not satisfied with the proposal, as it does not include a system that guarantees the adequate growth of the salary cap and the players’ salaries in relation to the development of the business, a key demand since the decision was made 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).

Sources close to the negotiation

The league has previously stated that it has proposed “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 WNBPA responded that the proposal “glosses over something 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 of 3%, reaching $1,507,100 in 2025, and a separate revenue-sharing provision provided for direct payments to players if the league achieved certain revenue targets. 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 association have continued negotiating in recent weeks, with a recent meeting on Wednesday.