WNBA and Players Union Continue Marathon CBA Negotiations Past March Deadline
Collective Bargaining Talks - The WNBA and WNBPA have engaged in three consecutive days of 12-hour negotiation sessions in New York, with the league's latest proposal featuring a $6.2 million salary cap and maximum salaries exceeding $1.3 million, as both sides work toward a transformational deal for the 2026 season.
Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) and Las Vegas Aces forward Alysha Clark (7) fight for a loose ball during game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The WNBA and its players’ union remain locked in intensive collective bargaining negotiations, now extending past the league’s March 10 deadline for completing a term sheet to avoid scheduling impacts for the 2026 season. Following marathon sessions at the Langham Hotel in New York, both sides are expressing cautious optimism while significant gaps remain on key issues.
Movement on Financial Terms
The league’s latest proposal represents substantial increases from previous offers, with a Year 1 salary cap of $6.2 million – more than four times the 2025 cap of $1.5 million. This marks an increase from the league’s March 1 proposal of $5.75 million. Maximum compensation would exceed $1.3 million in Year 1 and grow to nearly $2 million by Year 6, while average player compensation is projected to reach $570,000 initially and $850,000 over the life of the roughly six-year deal.
Our proposal on the table is a really historic and transformational deal for these players, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert told reporters. We’re proud of the deal we have on the table. I think it’s huge gains for the players, while balancing that with the health of the league. So we’ll just continue to work really hard, and we’ve got to get a deal done.
The WNBA has proposed players receive over 70% of net revenue, while the players’ union previously requested 26% of gross revenue with a Year 1 salary cap of approximately $9.5 million.
Players Remain Committed Despite Deadline
WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike expressed measured optimism about the ongoing talks, despite the passed deadline. Being able to be in the room, being able to exchange proposals, we’re feeling movement, Ogwumike said. We’re sticking to the process. That’s something that we’ve always been true to from the very beginning.
Regarding the March 10 deadline, Ogwumike maintained the union’s position: We haven’t ever really considered that as a timeline that has been something to prioritize on our side because we have always been negotiating in good faith. We want to play, and that’s why we all flew out here.
The negotiations have featured eight proposals exchanged over recent days, with sessions lasting roughly 12 hours Tuesday into Wednesday morning and about 11 hours Wednesday afternoon into early Thursday. Players voted in December 2025 to authorize a potential strike with 98% yes votes and 93% participation.
With the 2026 WNBA Draft scheduled for April 13 and opening day set for May 8, time pressures continue mounting. The league must also conduct an expansion draft for new franchises Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, plus free agency for over 100 players, once a deal is ratified.
Sylvain Sultat follows the NBA on a daily basis, covering individual performances, team dynamics, and the league's greatest stories. On Be-Basketball, he breaks down the latest American basketball news with passion and consistency, always on the lookout for the trends shaping the world of basketball.
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