Negotiations between the WNBA and the WNBPA over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) are ongoing, but recent reports from Sports Business Journal indicate that the players’ union intends to reject the league’s latest proposal. The rejection is partly due to unclear salary forecasts and concerns over the league’s financial calculations. Although the WNBA has suggested an average annual salary of $500,000, the proposed salary cap of $5 million per team for 12 players makes this figure unrealistic. The salary cap is expected to rise throughout the contract duration, linked directly to the league’s revenue growth each year, but precise revenue-sharing details have yet to be revealed.
According to USA TODAY Sports, the league’s current offer to the players includes a guaranteed base salary that could reach $1 million, with potential earnings exceeding $1.2 million through anticipated revenue sharing. This proposal also raises the minimum annual salary to at least $225,000 and an average annual salary to $500,000, improvements over the previous figures of $220,000 and $460,000 from the November 18 offer.
Additional reports indicate that the new league proposal excludes team housing, which currently provides accommodation for players during the regular and postseason. Players opting out of team housing would receive a monthly allowance. This change would particularly affect players on temporary or short-term contracts who remain with a team for a predetermined period. The league has also floated the idea of lengthening the season, possibly starting earlier, which could interfere with the women’s college basketball schedule, the WNBA draft, and other leagues such as Unrivaled and Project B. The anticipated start date for the 2025 season is May 16, with training camps set for April 28, though under the current CBA, camps can begin as early as April 1.
Negotiations are set to continue through January 9.
Fan Take: This development is critical for WNBA fans because it impacts players’ earnings and the league’s growth trajectory. The outcome will shape the future competitiveness and financial stability of the league while also influencing the players’ quality of life and career longevity.
