WNBA Pay War: League Reportedly Set To Offer $1.1M Max As Player Tensions Explode | Nba News

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The WNBA has proposed a groundbreaking new pay structure, including a maximum salary topping $1.1 million, in the latest round of collective bargaining talks, according to multiple reports.

The offer would also introduce revenue sharing for players, push the league minimum above $220,000, and allow teams to sign more than one max-salary player, with all figures rising annually.

A Deepening Rift at the Top

Record numbers aren’t easing the tension.

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has already clashed with league commissioner Cathy Engelbert, accusing her of being “distant” and “non-collaborative” throughout negotiations.

And when NBA commissioner Adam Silver publicly shrugged off the idea of “sharing” revenue, players saw it as another sign that ownership’s commitment to partnership isn’t matching the league’s momentum.

Players Say They’re Driving the League — But Not Sharing in the Boom

Athletes argue that their on-court performances, cultural visibility, and year-round influence have pushed the WNBA firmly into the mainstream. Yet the financial model, they say, still lags behind a league experiencing unprecedented growth in viewership, sponsorship, and relevance.

Deadline Pressure Builds

The current CBA was set to expire Oct. 31, forcing both sides to extend negotiations to Nov. 30. Players triggered their opt-out last year to demand a revamped salary structure and a true revenue-sharing system — the very issues now on the table.

If an agreement isn’t reached by the new deadline, the WNBA could face something it has never experienced: a work stoppage.

(with Reuters inputs)