WNBA Strikes Transformative CBA Deal Ahead of 30th Season

The WNBA and its players union have reached a groundbreaking agreement in principle on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), setting the stage for a historic 30th season and signaling a new era of growth for women’s professional basketball. The deal, struck after nearly 18 months of sometimes heated negotiations and marathon late-night bargaining sessions, keeps the league on track for its scheduled tipoff on May 8, 2026.

For weeks, the future of the league hung in the balance as both sides dug in their heels, with the threat of a work stoppage looming large. But in the early hours of March 18, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, union president Nneka Ogwumike, executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson, and top player representatives emerged from a Manhattan hotel conference room with smiles—and champagne—to announce a verbal agreement that could reshape the landscape of women’s sports.

“The progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league,” Engelbert told reporters shortly before 3 a.m. ET, emphasizing the shared commitment to the continued growth of the game. “It’s been a process, but we’re very proud to be leading in women’s sports, and these players are amazing, and we’re going to have an amazing 30th season tipping off in May.”

The new CBA, which still requires the finalization of a formal term sheet and ratification by both the players and the league’s Board of Governors, is poised to deliver sweeping changes. Notably, for the first time in league history, players will receive a guaranteed share of league revenue. According to sources familiar with recent proposals, that share could reach approximately 75% of net revenues from the league and its teams—a major victory for the union, which has long sought a more equitable financial partnership.

“For the first time, player salaries are tied to a truly meaningful share of league revenue, driving exponential growth in the salary cap, increasing average compensation beyond half a million dollars and raising the standard across facilities, staffing and support,” Ogwumike stated. She added, “We’re just really grateful to be able to come to a deal. We’re proud of ourselves. And quite frankly, we always told you all we were going to stand on business, and that’s what this looks like.”

Financial details are still being finalized, but the impact is already clear. Team salary caps are expected to more than quadruple, with max contract players poised to earn well over $1 million per year beginning this season. Average player salaries will jump from around $120,000 to approximately $570,000, marking a fourfold increase and setting a new benchmark for women’s professional sports in North America. The agreement also raises standards across the board, including improvements to player facilities, staffing, housing, retirement, and other benefits.

Union vice president Breanna Stewart, who was a key figure in the negotiations, called the deal “transformational.” In her words, “It’s going to build and help create a system where everybody is getting exactly what they deserve and more from on the court and off the court aspects. Just excited that we can tell our fans that we’re going to be back.”

The mood among player representatives was one of pride and relief, especially after a tense winter in which talks had stalled. The union had opted out of the previous CBA in October 2024, and by December, players had authorized their executive committee to call a strike if necessary. As the March deadline approached, both sides ramped up their efforts, holding over 100 hours of in-person bargaining and trading proposals late into the night. The breakthrough came around 2:20 a.m. ET on March 18, with both sides celebrating a deal they say will benefit current players and future generations alike.

“I think this can be summed up in two words: player empowerment,” Jackson said. “Players coming to the table and standing on business and being reminded of the collective voice and of what it means to be in a union and the power of this union. They never forgot it, and they have taken it, like they always do, to the next level.”

The agreement arrives at a time of unprecedented momentum for the WNBA. The league has seen a surge in popularity over the past two seasons, fueled in part by breakout stars like Caitlin Clark and a record-breaking rookie class. Attendance and viewership have soared, franchise valuations are climbing, and a new 11-year media rights deal worth roughly $200 million annually with Disney, Amazon, and NBCUniversal is set to begin this season. The expansion Golden State Valkyries are projected to earn $70 million in 2025 revenue—double any other team’s 2024 haul—underscoring the league’s growing commercial appeal.

With the labor dispute resolved, attention now shifts to a jam-packed offseason calendar. The WNBA will welcome two expansion teams, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, both of which will assemble their inaugural rosters through an expansion draft. Free agency, involving more than 100 veteran players, will kick off shortly after the deal is ratified, followed by training camps set to open on April 19 and preseason games beginning April 25. The college draft is scheduled for April 13, promising another infusion of young talent into a league that’s never been more competitive or compelling.

This new CBA will be the sixth in league history, following previous agreements in 1999, 2003, 2008, 2014, and 2020. Each has marked a step forward, but none have matched the scope or ambition of the current deal. As WNBPA treasurer Brianna Turner put it, “What we just accomplished is going to change the lives of so many players. Players like me are going to be the ones that feel it the most, and that’s what I think we’re all super proud of, because that’s what we set out from the beginning, was making sure every player felt the change in the CBA, and that’s exactly what has happened.”

While some details remain to be hammered out—lawyers on both sides continue to finalize the specifics, and the formal term sheet is expected in the coming days—the sense of optimism is palpable. Engelbert called the deal “a fair win-win for all,” and Jackson echoed that sentiment: “Cathy and her team understood that the players’ wins were the league’s wins and that our stories of success are shared stories of success, period.”

With the ink on the agreement still drying and the league’s 30th season just weeks away, the WNBA stands on the cusp of a new chapter—one defined by player empowerment, financial growth, and a shared vision for the future of women’s basketball. If the excitement among players, coaches, and fans is any indication, this is only the beginning of what promises to be a truly transformative era for the league.