WNBA’s Latest CBA Proposal Includes Housing Concessions as Negotiations Continue
Collective Bargaining Update - The WNBA has submitted a new proposal featuring housing provisions and facility standards improvements, but significant gaps remain on revenue sharing with just weeks before the 2026 season's scheduled start date of May 8th.
Indiana Fever forward Chloe Bibby (55), guard Caitlin Clark (22) and guard Sophie Cunningham (8) cheer during Game 4 of the WNBA semifinals on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Fever defeated the Aces 90-83.
Photo Credit : Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The WNBA delivered its latest collective bargaining agreement proposal to the players’ association on Friday, marking the first formal response from the league in over six weeks since the union’s Christmas-time offer. While the proposal includes notable concessions on housing and facilities, the fundamental disagreement over revenue sharing remains largely unchanged.
Housing provisions address key player concerns
Under the league’s new proposal, players on minimum salaries and those with zero years of service would receive one-bedroom apartments for the first three years of the deal. Developmental players would be provided studio apartments, representing a significant shift from the league’s previous proposals that included no housing provisions whatsoever.
The housing concessions address a longstanding player priority. WNBA teams have been required to provide housing since the first CBA was ratified in 1999, with teams previously able to offer either a one-bedroom apartment or a stipend under the previous agreement.
Revenue sharing gap persists despite salary cap increase
The proposal includes a salary cap increase to $5.65 million in 2026, up from roughly $1.5 million in 2025, with growth tied to revenue increases in subsequent years. Maximum salaries, including revenue share payouts, would reach $1.3 million in 2026 and approach $2 million by 2031, compared to the current supermax of $249,000.
However, this falls well short of the players’ demands. The union is seeking a $10.5 million salary cap and 30% of gross revenue, while the league continues to offer approximately 70% of net revenue after expenses are deducted – which the players say constitutes less than 15% of gross revenue.
The league projects the union’s plan would result in $700 million in losses over the agreement’s duration, jeopardizing the league’s financial health. The union disputes this figure as absolutely false and maintains their revenue sharing model keeps the league in a profitable position.
Time running short with season approaching
WNBPA leadership will meet in the coming days to review the proposal, with the union having already authorized strike action in December if necessary. Multiple sources indicate that without an agreement within the next two weeks, a delay to the 2026 season would be inevitable.
The 2026 season is scheduled to begin May 8th, but a new CBA must be finalized before the expansion draft and free agency can proceed. The WNBA has never experienced a work stoppage in league history, but players appear willing to hold firm on their demands even if it means temporarily shutting down the league.
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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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