The WNBA and its players’ union have implemented a moratorium on league operations as they failed to reach a new collective bargaining agreement by the set deadline. Negotiations are ongoing, primarily focusing on salary and revenue sharing disparities. This suspension has paused the initial phase of free agency, delaying teams from issuing qualifying offers and franchise tag designations to players.
Prior to the moratorium, teams were expected to send out offers to players under the expired CBA agreement. The league had to adhere to this due to U.S. labor laws. Despite the moratorium being a logical step, significant differences persist between the two parties on crucial matters.
The league’s latest proposal involves a potential maximum base salary of $1 million by 2026, which could rise to $1.3 million through revenue sharing. This marks a substantial increase from the current $249,000, with the possibility of reaching nearly $2 million over the agreement’s duration. Players could receive over 70% of net revenue, factoring in expenses such as upgraded facilities, charter flights, and medical services.
In the proposed scenario, the average salary in 2026 would exceed $530,000, a significant rise from the current $120,000, and could escalate to over $770,000 over the agreement’s lifespan. The minimum salary may surge from $67,000 to around $250,000 in the initial year. The proposal also addresses compensating promising young talents on rookie contracts, including Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, with nearly double the league’s minimum salary.
One of the pivotal issues in the negotiations is revenue sharing. The union’s counteroffer suggests players receive approximately 30% of gross revenue, calculated pre-expenses. Additionally, teams would be subject to a $10.5 million salary cap for player signings, with the revenue sharing percentage increasing marginally each year.