WNBA Reaches Tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement
The Fever’s Caitlin Clark, along with other key players on rookie contracts, will see their salaries rise significantly, even without entering free agency. This development follows the WNBA’s tentative agreement on a seven-year collective bargaining deal, which was marked by the signing of a term sheet between the league and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association last Friday.
This agreement features a robust revenue-sharing model, considerable salary increases, common standards for facilities, and improved severance packages.
A vote from the players and the WNBA Board of Governors is still pending, but sources suggest that this decision will be made “very soon.”
The current entry-level contracts will be adjusted to align with the new framework established in the CBA.
The salary cap will begin at $7 million, a notable increase from the $1.5 million set for 2025. Supermax salaries will start at $1.4 million, aiming to rise to $2.4 million by 2032.
For 2026, the average salary is set to be around $583,000, with forecasts suggesting it could surpass $1 million throughout the contract’s duration. This season, the minimum annual salary will range between $270,000 and $300,000, depending on players’ years of service.
Significantly, performance bonuses will see a marked increase. The 2026 WNBA champions are expected to earn $60,000 each, a jump from the $22,908 that the Aces received in 2025.
A new feature of this agreement lets players benefit from their performance earlier in their careers. There’s a clause known as “EPIC,” which allows players to renegotiate their fourth-year salaries to match the standard maximum. This applies if they secure All-WNBA first-team or second-team honors within their first three years, and it increases to supermax for league MVPs.
Clark, who made $78,066 last season, is projected to earn about $530,000 in 2026—an impressive 578% increase. She was named to the 2024 All-WNBA First Team during her rookie season, and it’s possible she could reach an annual maximum salary of $1.3 million in 2027, leading to a $1.7 million supermax in 2028.
Players must sign at least a three-year extension for the EPIC clause to take effect once their rookie contract concludes, which could mean Clark remains with the Fever until 2030.
Other players poised to benefit from this provision include Fever center Aliyah Boston and Wings guard Paige Bueckers.
Boston is eligible for a max contract this year, while Bueckers will be eligible in 2028.
Another key change in the CBA is that starting in 2027, only players with six or fewer years of service will qualify for the WNBA’s core designation, similar to the NFL’s franchise tag. This change means Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu will be up for core designation in 2026.
Teams are now obligated to maintain 12 players, along with two additional developmental roster spots that won’t impact the salary cap. Additionally, a new injury exception for second-end players will allow teams greater flexibility in managing their salary cap and replacing absent players.
Players will also have access to team-provided housing throughout the 2028 season, with those earning under $500,000 eligible for team housing starting in 2029. Developing players are guaranteed housing for the length of their contracts.
Friday night saw WNBA and WNBPA officials celebrating the announcement of this agreement.
League commissioner Cathy Engelbert described it as a “defining moment” for women’s professional sports, stating, “This agreement is a testament to the extraordinary athletes who believe in the future of the league.”
WNBPA Executive Director Terry Carmichael Jackson applauded the Players Association for its unity and resilience in advocating for their values. He emphasized, “When the players win, the league wins,” reflecting on the transformative potential this agreement has for the league’s economic structure.
