The WNBA and its players’ union have a limited time—just two weeks—to finalize a new collective bargaining agreement, or risk postponing the start of the 2026 season.
This was emphasized during a virtual meeting on Monday, which saw participation from over 50 players and was attended by league officials.
The deadline to finalize a term sheet is March 10. If not completed by then, it might hinder the league’s opening on May 8, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Even when they do manage to reach an agreement, it could take weeks for legal teams on both sides to review and ratify the document.
Meanwhile, the WNBA still has to conduct expansion drafts for two new teams and prepare for what’s expected to be the largest free agency period in the league’s history, with about 80% of players facing expiring contracts.
The WNBA Draft is set for April 13, and training camps are scheduled to begin just a week later, on April 19. Yet, none of these events can proceed if the collective bargaining agreement isn’t stable.
One of the major points of contention in negotiations revolves around revenue sharing. The league insists on providing players with a share of net profits, rather than a portion of gross revenue—revenue before expenses are deducted. In contrast, other leagues like the NBA, NFL, and NHL base their revenue-sharing models on total revenue.
Three days ago, the WNBA presented its players with a counteroffer after labeling the WNBPA’s last proposal as “unrealistic.” The league has suggested reinstating housing for all players starting in 2026, but their revenue-sharing proposal saw little significant change.
Currently, there’s a substantial gap of about 12.5 percentage points in the revenue shares proposed by both parties, along with a $3.85 million difference in their salary cap proposals. Interestingly, this month, the WNBPA reduced its demand from 40% of gross revenue down to 27.5%.
Throughout this process, the league has maintained its position of offering 70% of net revenue, which amounts to less than 15% of total revenue.
It’s worth noting that over 15 months have elapsed since players opted out of the previous CBA, and negotiations only gained traction at the start of the new year.
With a looming deadline, both parties are keen to reach an agreement, but there remains a possibility of a player strike, potentially marking a first in league history.
