WNBA Sets March Deadline for CBA Deal as Million-Dollar Salary Proposal Creates Roster Challenges
Labor Negotiations - The WNBA has established a hard March 10 deadline for reaching a new collective bargaining agreement with players, as the league's proposal for million-dollar salaries could reshape team construction while creating new roster-building complications for the 2026 season.
Jul 19, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Team Clark guard Caitlin Clark (22) and Team Collier guard Kelsey Plum (10) before the 2025 WNBA All Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Photo Credit : Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The WNBA finds itself in a critical negotiation period as the league and WNBA Players Association face mounting pressure to resolve their collective bargaining agreement by March 10. The deadline comes amid genuine concerns that further delays could impact the start of the 2026 season, with an expansion draft, free agency, and the WNBA Draft all scheduled before the May 8 season opener.
Historic Revenue Sharing Milestone Reached
The negotiations unfold against the backdrop of a significant financial milestone. The WNBPA confirmed that the league passed the threshold for net revenue sharing for the first time in history during the 2025 season. According to reports, the 13 teams will receive a total of $8 million out of an earned $16 million, with funds split directly among active players from last year. The league will invest the remaining $8 million into marketing agreements for select players.
Additionally, the players union has begun distributing $9.25 million of licensing revenue compiled from 2020 to 2025, with a cap of $50,000 for players who actively competed across all five seasons. This represents a dramatic increase from the $1,600 maximum per player distributed for the 2016-2019 seasons.
Million-Dollar Salaries Could Transform League Structure
The league’s proposed CBA would introduce a supermax base salary of approximately $1.13 million, representing 20% of a proposed $5.65 million salary cap in Year 1. A standard max would reach roughly $988,750. This marks a substantial jump from 2025 figures, when the supermax was $249,244 and the standard max was $214,466.
However, the proposal raises concerns about roster construction. The structure could squeeze mid-tier veterans and team depth, with championship contenders potentially feeling the most pressure. A scenario modeling the Las Vegas Aces shows four max-caliber players consuming roughly 65% of the cap, leaving remaining players closer to minimum than average salaries.
Players Express Frustration Over Financial Transparency
Player frustration has become increasingly vocal, with New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud expressing concerns about the league’s communication. « We will give you updates on the CBA, when we get updates on the CBA, but for eight months we have got no updates, » Cloud said. « And every time, we keep coming back to the league, there is a new estimate on the overall value of the league that keeps increasing. »
The two sides remain at a standstill, with players requesting 27.5% of gross revenue and a salary cap under $9.5 million in year one, while the league offers 70% of net revenue and a $5.65 million salary cap. As WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike stated, « Players do not want to strike, nobody wants a work stoppage. But at the end of the day, we do have to be ready. »
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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