It’s official: The WNBA and WNBPA have agreed on a new CBA, which is a huge win for players.
The Alliance has formally shared key elements of the agreement, and it is transformative in multiple ways. Let’s take a look.
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let us start with player compensation
The CBA has created the first comprehensive revenue sharing model in the history of women’s professional sports, which is characterized by “as the league continues to develop, players will have unlimited room for improvement.” The team’s salary cap will be set at $7 million in 2026 and is expected to exceed $11 million by 2032 (for context, last year’s team’s salary cap was set at $1.5 million).
Through 2026, the maximum salary next year will be $1.4 million. By 2032, this number is expected to rise to $2.4 million. The average salary will start at $583,000 next season and is expected to increase to over $1 million by 2032. The minimum salary will start at $270,000 to $300,000 (based on years of service) and increase to $340,000 to $380,000 by 2032. Existing rookie contracts will be modified.
The new CBA also gives star players on their rookie deals a path to max contracts — so players who stand out on their rookie deals like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers can be compensated accordingly.
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What other benefits will players receive?
According to reports, housing is a controversial issue in collective bargaining agreement negotiations. The WNBA will continue to provide league-provided housing to all players in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Then, in 2029 and 2030, players making less than $500,000 will be eligible for league housing.
Charter air travel was common last season but is now codified.
And, while no specifics were provided, the new CBA will include more first-class travel accommodations for players participating in the league, as well as new facility standards requiring teams to provide enhanced training and treatment resources (training facilities have also been a major focus of controversy in recent years).
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In addition, the new CBA requires a significant increase in team contributions to players’ 401(k) retirement accounts and increases the total life insurance benefits for each player by more than $700,000. Players will also receive expanded family planning benefits and expanded mental health coverage, including mental health reimbursement.
One thoughtful move in the new CBA is to provide one-time recognition payments to WNBA veterans and retired players based on years of service in the league. Players who have retired will receive $100,000 (if 12 or more years of service), $50,000 (if 8-11 years of service) and $30,000 (if 5-7 years of service). So, players only While new CBA provides compensation, they miss out on generational wealth
The team will now have two development slots
Teams are still required to have 12 players on their roster, but now, each team will also have two additional developmental roster spots that don’t count against the salary cap. That means there will be 54 new roster spots next season (two new teams with 14 players each, and the existing 13 teams with two new roster spots each).
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Teams will have salary cap exceptions for season-ending injuries and pregnancy and childbirth. It is worth noting that teams also need to obtain player consent before trading pregnant players. (Remember Dearica Hamby’s trade from the Las Vegas Aces to the Los Angeles Sparks? There’s no way that’s going to happen under the new collective bargaining agreement).
Also, more veteran players will have more autonomy during free agency. Starting in 2027, players with seven or more years of service cannot be designated as core players.
Additionally, all performance and incentive bonuses have increased – from WNBA championship bonuses to end-of-season incentives to All-Star Game appearances.
That’s a lot of new rules — WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert gushed about the results in an official press release.
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“This collective bargaining agreement represents a defining moment in the WNBA’s 30-year history and in all women’s professional sports,” Engelbert said. “Since its inception, the WNBA has been shaped by outstanding athletes who believe in the future of the league. This agreement is a testament to that belief and the tremendous progress we have made together.”
