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*The WNBA and its players’ union have reached a verbal agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement, delivering a landmark moment for the league just weeks before the 2026 season gets underway.
“The progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told ESPN. “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.”
WNBPA Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson added: “I think this can be summed up in two words: player empowerment,” she said, crediting the players for “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.”
Reaching this point required grinding through more than 100 hours of talks that blew past a March 10 deadline before both sides found common ground. The process is not entirely complete — a term sheet must be signed and the agreement must clear a ratification vote among players and the WNBA Board of Governors — but sources indicate that formality could be wrapped up within days, according to AP News.
Financial details leaked through sources close to the negotiations point to a dramatic reshaping of player compensation. According to Revolt, the salary cap will rise from $1.5 million to $7 million, with average pay climbing from $120,000 to approximately $600,000. The minimum salary will clear $300,000, a steep increase from the prior $66,079, and supermax contracts will open at $1.4 million, dwarfing the previous ceiling of $249,244. A roughly 20 percent average revenue share is also part of the package, as are upgrades across player housing, team facilities, support staffing, and retirement provisions.
Union president Nneka Ogwumike summed it up plainly, saying, “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.”
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