On October 30, the WNBA and its players’ union agreed to a 30-day extension of the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA), pushing the deadline to November 30. However, with less than a week remaining, reports suggest no significant progress has been made toward a new deal. It’s uncertain if they will extend the deadline again to avoid work stoppages, such as a lockout by the league or a players’ strike. If no agreement is reached by Sunday, a status quo period could begin, maintaining current working conditions.
Recently, the WNBA proposed a new salary structure, raising the league minimum salary to over $220,000, the average annual salary to more than $460,000, and setting a maximum salary of over $1.1 million for several players per team, with salary growth rates expected to exceed those in previous CBAs. However, the WNBPA argues these raises don’t sufficiently reflect the league’s long-term business growth, emphasizing a demand for a revenue-sharing model tied to basketball-related income, unlike the fixed salary system seen in the NBA.
Players want compensation based on revenue sharing, which in men’s sports is commonly split 50-50 between players and leagues, but WNBA players reportedly receive less than 10% of league revenue. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the gap but suggested focusing on absolute salary increases rather than revenue shares. WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike highlighted that when the current CBA expires in October 2024, players aim to push for transformative changes to ensure fairer compensation and better working conditions in women’s sports.
The league’s latest proposal suggests a significant pay raise, with the minimum salary jumping from $66,079 in 2025 to over $220,000. Nonetheless, the maximum salary’s reported $1.1 million includes potential revenue-sharing bonuses, making the basic supermax contract around $800,000 to $850,000. The players’ association remains skeptical about the offer’s ability to scale in line with the league’s business growth.
WNBA’s popularity is surging, with a record 3.15 million game attendees in 2025 and an average of 11,148 fans per game—both highs in league history. The season and playoffs saw a 5% increase in TV viewership, averaging 1.2 million viewers per game. An 11-year national media rights deal worth $2.2 billion, starting in 2026, could further boost the league’s growth.
The WNBA’s ownership is split with the NBA holding 42%, WNBA team owners another 42%, and investors 16%. A $75 million capital investment group, including notable figures and NBA owners, aims to accelerate growth. Overall, NBA-affiliated owners control about 60% to 75% of the league.
Newer leagues like Unrivaled and Project B offer players options during the WNBA offseason with equity stakes and higher pay—contracts reportedly reaching seven figures and starting at $2 million annually—without positioning themselves as competitors to the WNBA. These alternatives may become more attractive if the WNBA’s terms do not improve.
The current CBA was set to expire in October 2025 but was extended to November 30, with possible further extensions. The league faces tight timelines with upcoming events like the expansion and player drafts. Historically, the WNBA has never had a lockout, but failure to reach an agreement by May could delay or cancel the 2026 season, as happened briefly with the 2003 draft and preseason.
Fan Take: This negotiation holds huge significance for WNBA fans as it will shape the league’s future, impacting player salaries and growth potential. A fair deal could solidify the WNBA’s rise in popularity and set new standards for women’s sports, making the league more competitive and sustainable long-term.
