WNBA Players Secure Historic $1M+ Salary Cap and Revenue Sharing Deal in New CBA Agreement

The WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) have finalized a groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that promises to reshape professional women’s basketball by dramatically increasing player compensation and tying salaries directly to league revenue for the first time in league history. Announced in a joint statement early Wednesday morning, the verbal agreement—pending finalization and ratification—includes maximum player salaries surpassing $1 million, minimum salaries exceeding $300,000, and a starting team salary cap of $7.5 million. These figures represent an unprecedented financial leap from the previous CBA, where the 2026 salary cap was set to plummet to just $1.55 million under a rigid, unreformed structure.

Why This CBA Deal Is a Turning Point for Women’s Professional Sports

The newly agreed-upon CBA is not merely a contract renegotiation—it is a paradigm shift in how women athletes are compensated and valued in professional sports. Historically, women’s leagues have operated under financial constraints that lag far behind their male counterparts, with WNBA player salaries traditionally dwarfed by NBA earnings. Under the 2020 CBA, which players opted out of in October 2024, the league’s financial model left players earning a fraction of the revenue generated by the sport. The new agreement, however, introduces a revenue-sharing model that ties player pay directly to the league’s financial growth, a move widely described by analysts and players alike as transformational.

The Old CBA: A System That Failed to Scale with Success

The previous collective bargaining agreement, ratified in 2020, included a rudimentary revenue-sharing mechanism that allowed players to access a percentage of league revenue only after reaching specific financial benchmarks. However, those benchmarks increased by 20% annually, while player salaries rose by just 3% each year—a mismatch that failed to reflect the WNBA’s rising popularity, viewership, and commercial success. According to data from Forbes, the WNBA’s annual revenue has grown by nearly 30% since 2020, yet player salaries remained stagnant relative to the league’s expanding economic footprint. This disparity prompted the WNBPA to opt out of the CBA in October 2024, setting the stage for a high-stakes negotiation aimed at securing a more equitable distribution of wealth.

From Opt-Out to Breakthrough: A Week of Marathon Negotiations

The road to this agreement was paved with urgency and high-stakes bargaining. Over the past week, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and WNBPA leadership, led by president Nneka Ogwumike, engaged in more than 100 hours of negotiations. The talks centered on two critical issues: revenue sharing and salary caps. Players demanded a percentage of gross revenue, arguing that their contributions were central to the league’s growth. The WNBA initially proposed a percentage of net revenue, which union negotiators estimated would have amounted to less than 15% of gross revenue—a figure far below the players’ expectations. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the finalized agreement ensures that players will receive an average of nearly 20% of gross revenue over the life of the CBA.

The marathon sessions were marked by intense give-and-take. The union’s initial ask was a bold 40% of gross revenue, which was later revised to 26% before settling on the nearly 20% compromise. For context, the NBA’s players currently receive around 50% of league revenue, while the WNBA’s new agreement represents a historic step toward parity within women’s sports. Ogwumike, a 14-year veteran and Stanford alumna, framed the deal as a victory not just for salaries but for the long-term sustainability of women’s basketball. In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, she said, 'For the first time, player salaries are tied to a truly meaningful share of league revenue, driving exponential growth in the salary cap. This agreement ensures that the women who fuel this league are finally sharing in the success they create.'

Breaking Down the Financial Terms: Salaries, Caps, and Revenue Sharing

• Maximum player salaries will exceed $1 million for the first time in WNBA history.
• Minimum salaries will rise to over $300,000, a figure that surpasses what Kelsey Mitchell, the league’s highest-paid player in 2024, earned under the old system.
• The starting team salary cap is set at $7.5 million, a more than fourfold increase from the projected $1.55 million cap under the old agreement.
• Players will receive an average of nearly 20% of gross league revenue, a first for the WNBA.
• The salary cap will now be directly tied to league revenue, ensuring annual adjustments based on financial performance.

Beyond Salaries: Improvements in Facilities, Benefits, and Work-Life Balance

While the revenue-sharing and salary provisions represent the headline achievements of the new CBA, the agreement also includes significant gains on ancillary issues that address player well-being, career longevity, and family planning. These provisions reflect a broader recognition within professional sports that athlete compensation extends beyond game-day paychecks. Key improvements include enhanced facilities standards, housing stipends for players relocating to new markets, expanded retirement benefits, and strengthened family planning support, including coverage for fertility treatments and childcare assistance.

Facilities and Housing: Investing in Player Comfort and Career Longevity

Under the new CBA, teams will be required to meet higher standards for practice facilities, locker rooms, and team travel accommodations. These upgrades are designed to reduce injury risk, improve performance, and enhance the overall player experience—a critical factor in retaining talent and attracting new players. Additionally, the agreement includes housing stipends for players who must relocate to new markets, a provision aimed at easing the financial burden of moving and ensuring players can focus on their careers without undue stress.

Retirement and Family Planning: Securing the Future for Players

The new CBA also strengthens retirement benefits, ensuring that players receive a more secure financial foundation post-career. Additionally, the agreement expands family planning benefits, including coverage for in vitro fertilization (IVF), surrogacy, and adoption assistance. These provisions reflect a growing trend in professional sports to support athletes holistically, recognizing that family planning is a critical component of career planning for many players.

What’s Next? Ratification, Season Start, and Expansion Plans

While the verbal agreement marks a major milestone, the CBA is not yet finalized. The next step is the formalization of a term sheet, which will outline the specific terms of the agreement in detail. Once finalized, the CBA must be ratified by the WNBPA’s membership—a process that typically involves a vote by the players. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert expressed confidence that the season will begin on schedule, with the first games set for May 8. This comes after Engelbert had previously set deadlines of March 10 and then this past weekend for a deal to be reached without disrupting the season schedule.

The new CBA also clears the way for significant league business that had been on hold during negotiations. The league office has already sent teams potential dates for a compressed offseason schedule, which will include two expansion drafts (as part of the WNBA’s planned expansion to Las Vegas and San Francisco), a free agency period, the college draft in May, and preseason games. These events are now expected to proceed as planned, signaling a return to normalcy for a league poised for growth.

The Broader Impact: How This Deal Could Influence Women’s Sports and Beyond

The WNBA’s new CBA is more than a financial milestone—it is a cultural one. By tying salaries to revenue and securing unprecedented compensation, the league is setting a new standard for women’s professional sports. Other leagues, including the NWSL, LPGA, and even international women’s soccer, will be watching closely to see if this model can be replicated. Analysts suggest that this deal could accelerate investment in women’s sports, attracting more corporate sponsors, media partners, and fans. It also sends a powerful message to young athletes: that professional success in women’s sports can be both financially rewarding and sustainable.

Key Takeaways: What Players, Fans, and the Sports World Need to Know

• The WNBA has reached a verbal agreement on a new CBA that includes maximum salaries over $1 million, minimum salaries over $300,000, and a $7.5 million team salary cap—all firsts in league history.
• Players will receive an average of nearly 20% of gross league revenue, a historic revenue-sharing model that ties salaries to the league’s financial growth.
• The new agreement addresses long-standing disparities in player compensation and benefits, including improved facilities, housing stipends, retirement plans, and family planning support.
• The deal marks a significant step toward parity in professional sports, setting a precedent for other women’s leagues to follow.
• The CBA must still be finalized and ratified, but the WNBA season is expected to begin on May 8 as scheduled.

Reactions from the WNBA Community: Players and Analysts Weigh In

This is a watershed moment for the WNBA and for women’s sports as a whole. For the first time, we’re seeing player salaries tied to the league’s revenue in a way that ensures exponential growth. This isn’t just about paychecks—it’s about respect, sustainability, and the future of the game.

The new CBA is a game-changer. The revenue-sharing model is unprecedented in women’s sports, and the salary increases are long overdue. This deal will attract top talent and help retain the stars who make the league great.

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