WNBA, WNBPA officially announce tentative deal on new CBA

The WNBA and WNBPA have finalized and signed a list of terms for a new collective bargaining agreement, allowing both sides to formally announce Friday that they have reached a tentative agreement.

The terms were agreed to verbally by both sides early Wednesday morning, after eight days and more than 100 hours of negotiations in Midtown Manhattan, New York. The agreement is awaiting ratification by the WNBA Board of Governors and the WNBPA player body, which could take a few more weeks.

In a press release, the league called the agreement “one of the most transformative labor agreements ever reached in major professional sports.”

At the heart of the new agreement is a revenue sharing model that the league calls “the first comprehensive revenue sharing model in the history of women’s professional sports.” The league projects the new system will bring in more than $1 billion in player salaries and benefits over the life of the deal.

The salary cap for the 2026 season will be $7 million and will change annually based on league and team revenue growth; it is expected to exceed $10 million by the end of the deal.

The maximum salary is set at $1.4 million in 2026 and is expected to reach more than $2.4 million by 2032. The average salary is expected to be $583,000 in 2026 and exceed $1 million by 2032. Minimum salaries will vary, depending on years of service, from $270,000 to $300,000 in 2026 and are expected to range from $340,000 to $380,000 by 2032.

Under the new deal, existing rookie-scale contracts will be adjusted upwards. Upcoming rookie-scale contracts will also see significant salary increases, with the No. 1 pick in 2026 expected to earn $500,000.

The deal will also require teams to draft 12 players, and they will now be able to have two additional spots for developmental players that won’t count against the cap.

The 2026 season will remain at 44 games, then the schedule will expand to 50 games in 2027 and 2028, then up to 52 games from 2029 to 2032.

According to the press release, other highlights of the agreement include:

• Codified league-wide charter air travel

• Enhanced standards for team facilities requiring teams to provide enhanced training and treatment resources

• Increased team personnel needs, including access to additional physicians, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, physical and massage therapists, and nutritionists.

• Salary cap exceptions for injured or pregnant players

• Consent to trade of pregnant player

• Substantial bonus increases for all league and playoff awards; From 2027, bonuses will increase as the salary cap grows

• Expanded first-class travel accommodations for players during league events

• Significant increase in team contributions to players’ 401(k) retirement accounts

• A one-time recognition payment for veterans and retired WNBA players, based on years of service in the league, ranging from $30,000 to $100,000.

• Enhanced life insurance benefits totaling over $700,000 per player

• Expanded mental health coverage, including a specific reimbursement benefit for mental health

• Expanded Family Planning Benefits for Players and Their Spouses/Partners