After 17 or so months of negotiations, we finally have a new WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The league and the players’ union agreed to a new, historic CBA on March 18, with the players unanimously voting to approve the terms of the new CBA on March 23. To get to this point, the WNBA and WNBPA met in New York met for more than 100 hours from March 10-18, with league representatives and and players’ union leadership taking part of those negotiations.
At 2 a.m. local time on March 18, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert met with reports and noted that both sides agreed to terms of a new CBA deal. Later, the league released a statement saying this deal is “one of the most transformational labor agreements ever reached in major professional sports.”
What We Know About the New CBA
In the days following the news of the CBA agreement, we know much more detail on what the historic deal includes and the benefits it has on past, current and future WNBA players.
The new CBA will span seven years, with a revenue sharing model at the center of the deal. According to the WNBA, this new model will provide more than $1 billion in salaries to players over the course of the seven years.
Here are main items included:
- Player salaries are directly tied to league revenue growth for the first time ever
- The salary cap for the 2026 season will start at $7 million and will likely increase as year’s progress
- Max salaries will by $1.4 million in 2026 and could grow to more than $2.4 million by 2032
- Minimum salaries will range from $270,000-$300,000 in 2026 and could increase to $340,000-$380,000 by 2032
- Teams are required to roster 12 players and can have two additional spots for developmental players
- The 2026 season will still feature 44 games, with the roster expanding to 50 games in 2027 and potentially 52 games by 2029
- Housing will be provided for all players from 2026-28 and for players making less than $500,000 in 2029-30
Here are some other highlights of the deal:
- Codified league-wide charter air travel
- Expanded first-class travel for players across league events
- Enhanced standards for facilities, requiring teams to provide training and treatment resources
- Salary cap exceptions for injured or pregnant players
- Pregnant player trade consent
- Expanded staffing requirements, including access to physicians, trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, physical therapists and nutritionists
- Increases in compensation for league and postseason awards, with the bonuses increasing along with the growth of the salary cap
- Payment for past and retired WNBA players based on years of service, ranging from $30,000-$100,000 in compensation
- Increases in team contributions to player 401(k) retirement accounts
- Life insurance benefits totaling more than $700,000 per player
- Expanded mental health coverage, including mental health reimbursement benefits
- Expanded family planning benefits for players and spouses/partners
Now What?
With the timing of the CBA deal, it results in no delay to the 2026 season and means we are about to entire an extremely busy time in the offseason over the month of April.
Get ready for a busy time in the WNBA, with the rest of the offseason looking like:
- April 3: Expansion Draft for the WNBA’s two newest teams — the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire
- April 7-8: Qualifying offers for free agents can be made by teams
- April 8-10: Free agency negotiation period will take place
- April 11: Free agency signing period begins
- April 13: 2026 WNBA Draft will be held
- April 19: Training camps will commence league-wide
- April 25: Preseason action begins
- May 8: Regular season schedule gets underway with Opening Night
Things are about to come fast and furious. But, at long last, the most important thing has taken place — there is a new groundbreaking WNBA CBA deal, and now we can move forward with a normal season as planned.