The National Women’s Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) received the WNBA’s counteroffer on Friday evening, which contained some modifications compared to the league’s earlier proposal, according to officials speaking to the Saturday Post. Sources revealed that the league’s response arrived six weeks after the WNBPA submitted its most recent proposal around Christmas, but it lacked substantial updates regarding revenue sharing.
While the players are pushing for 30 percent of the total revenue, the WNBA continues to propose a share of roughly 70 percent of net revenue, which translates to about 15 percent of the total revenue from the league and teams combined. The WNBA suggests increasing the salary cap to $5.65 million in 2026, significantly less than the WNBPA’s proposed cap of $10.5 million, as shared by an insider familiar with the talks.
The league also clarified policies to secure housing for certain players, offering a team-funded studio for each of the two new development players. First-year players and those earning minimum contracts would receive one-bedroom apartments, while the league agreed to the players’ request to formalize standards for team facilities, though precise details have yet to be disclosed.
The WNBA declined to comment on the negotiations, and the WNBPA has not yet responded. Recent weeks have seen a pause in talks as the association awaited the league’s reply. On Monday, several members of the WNBPA’s executive committee, including President Nneka Ogwumike, met face-to-face with league officials to try to revitalize discussions amid concerns that ongoing negotiations could delay the start of the 2026 season.
During the three-hour meeting, league representatives presented slides highlighting improvements already made in the new contract offer. Among these are a supermax base salary of $1.1 million in 2026, with potential increases up to $1.8 million by 2030. Average base salaries could rise from about $102,000 in 2025 to $465,000 next season.
Other proposed enhancements include expanded guaranteed contracts, two developmental player roster spots per team, increased performance bonuses, and salary cap exceptions for players who are pregnant or recovering from postseason injuries.
Despite these proposed changes, time is running out for both parties to finalize a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Multiple sources suggest that without an agreement within the next two weeks or so, a season postponement is nearly unavoidable. The negotiation process has been challenging partly because the initial proposals from both sides were quite far apart—if the middle ground is considered the 50-yard line, the WNBA began near the 40-yard line while the players started outside the stadium. However, players hold more influence than ever in these talks, which explains their ambitious demands from the outset.
As talks progress, some insiders believe the players might be conceding more than the league. The WNBA’s latest revenue-sharing proposal now includes team revenues, which was absent from the original model. The next move rests with the union, which authorized strike actions if necessary during a December vote.
Though the WNBA has never experienced business disruptions before, this vote is just one step in a complex process. Both sides want to avoid delaying next season, but the players appear ready to stand firm to secure what they believe they deserve, even if it means temporarily shutting down the league.
Fan Take:
This development is crucial for WNBA fans because it highlights the intense negotiations shaping the future of the league’s player compensation and working conditions. A fair and timely agreement could not only prevent a season delay but also ensure that the sport continues to grow by properly valuing and supporting its athletes.
