Bold opening: The WNBA players are pushing for a smaller slice of the revenue pie, and the fight over how big that slice should be could shape the league’s future. But here’s where it gets controversial: both sides argue that the core fairness and growth of the game ride on this division, and the details matter more than the headline numbers.
The players’ union has submitted a fresh counterproposal to the league, keeping the same overall framework of the salary model but making deliberate concessions on the players’ share of revenue. In practical terms, the union is asking for 25 percent of total revenue in Year 1 of the new CBA, with that percentage gradually rising so the average over the contract lands at 27.5 percent. By comparison, their earlier plan started at a 28 percent share in Year 1 and rose to an average of 31 percent across the agreement.
Because the revenue share would be lower, the proposed salary cap would also drop—from just above $10.5 million in the prior proposal to under $9.5 million in the current proposal.
The WNBA’s most recent offer, presented to the union on Feb. 6, features a salary cap of $5.65 million, up slightly from its previous figure of $5.55 million.
Housing has also been a sticking point. In today’s CBA, teams are required to provide housing for all players. With the potential salary increases in the new agreement, the league has proposed scaling back this obligation. The union’s latest proposal would keep housing support for the initial years of the contract, but beyond that, players on multiyear guaranteed deals near the maximum salary would need to arrange their own housing.
The league has suggested housing support would be limited to players on minimum contracts or those with zero years of service, and only through 2028.
As the two sides debate the major economic model changes, retirement benefits, and minimum professional standards, they are inching toward common ground on minimum facilities standards. Both sides appear to agree on expanding the developmental-player pool, adding two developmental spots per team to the existing 12-player rosters. Details on how these developmental players would be paid and housed remain to be finalized.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver noted on Saturday that there is no hard deadline to finish negotiations in time for a complete season, but stressed a growing sense of urgency to move forward.
WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike commented on Monday’s podcast, expressing surprise at Silver’s urgency remarks, given that the union had waited more than six weeks for a response after the CBA extension expired.
The current stalemate follows the CBA lapse on Jan. 9, with two extensions having extended the original Oct. 31, 2025 expiration. The 2026 season is slated to begin May 8, but the league must still conduct an expansion draft, free agency, and the college draft (set for April 13) before training camps start in late April.
— Chantel Jennings contributed to this report.
