WNBA, WNBPA Reach In-Principle CBA, Paving Path to Higher Pay and 2026 Season
TL;DR
After 17 months of negotiations, the WNBA and WNBPA reached an in-principle CBA on March 18; a term sheet will be signed, then players vote and a board ratification follows. The deal reportedly would set a roughly $7 million salary cap, about a 20% average revenue share for players, and salaries rising to about $600k on average (supermax ~ $1.4M), with housing and other benefits improved. The 2026 season is slated to start May 8 (camp begins April 19), and an expansion draft will be held for Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo under the new terms.
- WNBA CBA agreed to in principle, max salary increases by four fold USA Today
- WNBA, players' union reach verbal agreement on new CBA terms ESPN
- What's WNBA salary cap in new CBA? Salaries and revenue sharing, explained USA Today
- What’s next for the WNBA after reaching a historic CBA deal? The New York Times
- RandBall: What the WNBA’s new labor deal means for the Lynx Star Tribune
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