The WNBPA and WNBA extended the window to deliver a new CBA late last week, and the league has made a new offer – which includes raises salaries across the board, but there’s a catch
13:59 ET, 02 Dec 2025Updated 14:00 ET, 02 Dec 2025
The WNBA is in talks with the WNBPA over a new CBA(Image: Getty Images)
The WNBA could make a significant change to players’ lives by offering higher contracts while removing housing in its latest proposal.
Last year, in October 2024, WNBA players opted out of the current CBA. This gave the league and the WNBPA more than a year to hash out a new deal, with some of the key issues being addressed in negotiations, including increased player salaries, implementing a softened salary cap, expanded rosters, better access to family planning services, and players having a seat at the table for media rights talks.
On Sunday night, the WNBA and WNBPA struck a deal over an extension to finalize the CBA. As the two sides move toward striking a groundbreaking new agreement, the league has made an intriguing offer.
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The WNBA proposed a seven-figure base max salary, but the league removed team housing from the offer submitted to the WNBPA, according to Front Office Sports. Teams have been required to provide players with in-season housing since 2016.
The WNBA has also proposed extending the season, featuring an earlier start date that is expected to interfere with the NCAA tournament and potentially other leagues such as Project B or even Unrivaled. The start date for training camp could be as early as mid-March; the current 44-game regular season runs from mid-May to early September, with the 2025 WNBA Finals scheduled to end on Oct. 10.
The league’s proposal reportedly includes a maximum base salary of $1 million, with potential earnings from revenue sharing increasing that number to $1.2 million. Multiple players per team would be eligible to sign for this supermax base in 2026.
This would see the average salary is projected to exceed $500,000, with a minimum of more than $225,000. The salary cap is currently $1.5 million per team, but it is expected to increase to $5 million, growing in line with league and team revenue.
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WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert is looking to extend the league’s season(Image: Getty Images)
However, housing would be cut. Under the current CBA, players have multiple options during the regular season and the playoffs for housing, receiving either a home provided by the team or a monthly stipend.
Players with children under the age of 13 receive a two-bedroom unit, while the monthly stipend for players who opt not to live in team-provided housing is up to $2,700 in New York. The most affected players would be those under temporary contracts, as they are likely to be in WNBA markets for a short period of time before moving on.
Regarding the CBA, the current deal allows the WNBA to move the start of training camp up to April 1 at the earliest, while the season is permitted to run through Oct. 31. Last October, commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the league’s decision to increase the regular season to a 44-game slate. The schedule change included the WNBA Finals switching to a 7-game format.
The league and players’ union failed to reach an agreement on a new CBA by the extended date of Nov. 30. On Sunday, the two sides agreed to a second extension with a deadline of Jan. 9, 2026.