WNBA’s Response to Players Union’s Proposal
On Friday, the WNBA officially addressed the National Women’s Basketball Players Association’s (WNBPA) proposed collective bargaining agreement, just three days after criticizing it as “unrealistic.”
As the clock ticked down—just 11 hours remained in the negotiations that could potentially push back the start of the 2026 WNBA season—the league made only modest adjustments related to housing and retirement perks.
According to insiders, the WNBA has committed to providing housing for all players in 2026. However, starting in 2027, team-funded housing will be restricted to only a select group.
For instance, the league plans to allocate studio apartments for two rookie development players throughout their contracts. Meanwhile, players earning the lowest annual salary or with no prior service will receive one-bedroom apartments until 2028. Additionally, players who are traded during the season will have access to up to 30 days of hotel accommodation.
This contrasts with the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, which allows players traded mid-season to be reimbursed for as long as 46 days in five-star hotels, along with other expenses such as rent or mortgage for up to three months after a trade.
The WNBA’s offer has not shifted substantially since the WNBPA greatly increased its revenue-sharing demands in its last proposal, asking for approximately 27.5 percent of total revenue, which is a notable figure. Although the league has adjusted how team expenses are calculated, officials indicated these changes wouldn’t significantly boost player salaries.
Currently, WNBA players receive a 70 percent share of net revenue, calculated after expenses. However, they are advocating for a share based on gross income, which is the total before any deductions. Projections suggest that even with the changes, players are likely to capture less than 15% of total revenue. The proposed salary cap for 2026 stands at $5.65 million, leaving a considerable gap of roughly 12.5 percentage points between the two sides regarding their revenue shares and a $3.85 million difference in salary cap proposals.
The WNBA has, however, improved its retirement benefits, offering former players who completed eight or more seasons a $4,500 award for each year served. Still, the league did not comment on player requests surrounding season start dates, game counts, rookie contract lengths, or mental health compensation, nor did it address matters about core designations or league priorities.
As the WNBA gears up to finish its 30th season on May 8, there’s still much to settle, given that two drafts and free agency will occur before training camps kick off on April 19.
In a recent interview, Brianna Stewart expressed hope that the WNBA and the WNBPA will enter a more productive negotiation phase, aiming to expedite discussions about numbers and benefits—something that’s been dragging on. She described the process as both mentally and physically taxing but emphasized the urgency of having a finalized deal within the next two weeks to keep the season on track.
When asked about her feelings on the league’s response, Stewart admitted her uncertainty, saying, “I don’t know right now.” It does seem, though, that both sides recognize time is of the essence.
