WNBA CBA Negotiations Face Urgency as Players Submit New Proposal

New York – Negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement between the WNBA and the WNBA Players’ Association (WNBPA) are intensifying as the league seeks to finalize a deal before the start of the 2026 season. The WNBPA submitted a new counterproposal on Tuesday, making concessions on revenue sharing and housing, but the league has deemed the offer “unrealistic.”

Revenue Sharing Remains Key Sticking Point

The central issue in the negotiations remains revenue sharing. The WNBPA is now seeking an average of 27.5% of the gross revenue over the life of the new CBA, with 25% in the first year. This represents a reduction from their previous proposal, which aimed for an average of over 30%. The league’s most recent offer, presented on February 6th, included a salary cap of $5.65 million, a slight increase from a previous offer of $5.55 million. However, the WNBPA’s current proposal would result in a salary cap of less than $9.5 million, down from $10.5 million in their prior offer.

“The Players Association’s latest proposal remains unrealistic and would cause hundreds of millions of dollars of losses for our teams,” a league spokesperson stated. “We still need to complete two drafts and free agency before the start of training camp and are running out of time.”

Housing Provisions Under Debate

Housing for players is another significant point of contention. Currently, teams are required to provide housing for all players. The league has proposed scaling back these obligations, citing projected increases in player salaries. The WNBPA’s latest proposal suggests continued housing support for the initial years of the agreement. Beyond that, players on multiyear guaranteed contracts earning near the maximum salary would be responsible for securing their own housing.

The league had previously suggested providing housing only to players on minimum contracts or with zero years of service and only through 2028.

Progress on Other Issues

Despite the disagreements on revenue sharing and housing, the parties are reportedly making progress on other fronts. They are nearing alignment on establishing minimum standards for facilities and have agreed to add two developmental player spots to each team’s 12-player roster. Details regarding the salaries and housing arrangements for these developmental players are still under discussion.

Urgency from League and Union Leadership

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has emphasized the need for a “next-level sense of urgency” to ensure a complete 2026 season, though he indicated there isn’t a strict “drop-dead date” for negotiations. WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike expressed surprise at Silver’s comments, noting the union had waited over six weeks for a response to a previous proposal. The current status quo has been in place since the CBA lapsed on January 9th, following extensions from the original October 31, 2025, expiration date.

The 2026 WNBA season is currently scheduled to begin on May 8th.