5<\/p>\n Caitlin Clark and other WNBA stars have been vocal in their pursuit for a fair CBACredit: GETTY<\/p>\n The players have been a united front throughout the season, campaigning for a pay structure that “financially recognizes players’ contributions”<\/a> to a league which has experienced exponential growth over the past few seasons. <\/p>\n This is largely in part due to some star names entering the WNBA out of college, such as that of Caitlin Clark<\/a>, Angel Reese<\/a>, and more recently, Paige Bueckers. <\/p>\n But this surge in interest in women’s basketball has also aligned with the rise of women’s sports globally, including that of soccer and tennis. <\/p>\n Although official figures haven’t yet been released, a report from Deloitte projected that women’s basketball revenues were expected to surpass the $1 billion mark in 2025 alone, whilst women’s sports is projected to hit in excess of $2.35 billion. <\/p>\n MORE FROM THE WNBA<\/p>\n With those figures emerging, what the players mainly want is a greater share of the league’s revenue<\/a> reflected in their salary structures. <\/p>\n WNBA and WNBPA still far apart on negotiations<\/p>\n With the WNBA currently in a legitimate crisis<\/a>, perhaps no better epitomized than by Minnesota Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier<\/a> who unleashed a scathing attack<\/a> aimed at WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in her 2025 season exit interview, many are hoping – desperately – that all parties agree to a new CBA sooner rather than later. <\/p>\n Some hope surfaced when a report published by Doug Feinberg of the Associated Press appeared to indicate that a number had been put on the table<\/a> for a league-minimum salary of $200,000 and a maximum salary of $1.1 million. <\/p>\n “The WNBA\u2019s latest collective bargaining proposal would include revenue sharing with a maximum salary of more than $1.1 million available to more than one player per team growing each year,” Feinberg wrote. <\/p>\n “The new league minimum would be more than $220,000 with an average of more than $460,000. Those numbers would start in the first year of the deal for more than 180 players and increase over the length of the CBA.”<\/p>\n However, just two days later ESPN’s Alexa Philippou quickly quashed the idea that players were content with the league’s latest proposals, as the initial report’s numbers appear to be somewhat misleading.<\/p>\n talkSPORT reacts… Players should stand pat on their unnegotiables<\/p>\n With the risk of injury in basketball, especially in women’s basketball with ACL injuries at an all-time high, WNBA players should have the financial compensation should the worst case scenario happen. <\/p>\n Furthermore, with the growth of the game trending at record highs, the players deserve to be rewarded for their roles in this. <\/p>\n With the game only set to generate more revenue as the years pass, the WNBPA’s united stance on ensuring the new CBA reflects their value has been a powerful one. <\/p>\n It further serves as a message for those, not just in sport, but in industries where they feel undervalued, that they should fight for fairness and equality.<\/p>\n Kerrie Jacobs-Bryant, US Sports Journalist<\/p>\n “I’m hearing that the players and the WNBPA [the WNBA’s players’ association] do not feel like this proposal moves things forward,”\u00a0Philippou said on ESPN’s NBA Today<\/a> on November 20. <\/p>\n “And if you look at the numbers that came out with this report, you see a salary maximum reported of $1.1 million, a minimum of $220,000, and an average salary of $460,000.<\/p>\n “But the issue that the players and the WNBPA seem to have with this proposal is that it does not meaningfully actually apply their request to have a revenue share system in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement.<\/p>\n “What they want \u2014 and the players have been really consistent in this message \u2014 is that they feel that the salary system needs to grow with the business. And so far, this proposal does not include that to the extent they have been asking for.”<\/p>\n With that being said, just after the 2026 WNBA draft lottery – in which the Dallas Wings secured the No. 1 overall pick for the second straight year – sometimes fiesty Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve<\/a> offered confidence that negotiations between the parties are progressing, and that an agreed deal could be imminent. <\/p>\n “We’re obviously excited at the opportunity [to draft No. 2 overall]…” Reeve said to fans per a TikTok post\u00a0<\/a>from @IxchelMcK. “Prior to getting to the draft in April, obviously we have a long way to go, as you know. <\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Lynx head coach Reeve expects an agreement to be reached before the deadlineCredit: Getty 5<\/p>\n Napheesa Collier unleashed a scathing attack on Cathy Engelbert’s leadership as WNBA Commissioner amid ongoing CBA negotiationsCredit: Getty<\/p>\n Highest paid WNBA players (2025)<\/p>\n Highest paid WNBA players (yearly)<\/p>\n 1 . Jackie Young – Las Vegas Aces – $252,450 “I think things are progressing, so you all know, progressing with the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Everything that’s happening is normal course of business. They will get a deal done. I’m very, very confident in that.”<\/p>\n WNBA trying to make rival leagues redundant<\/p>\n Whilst there are discrepancies over how close the WNBA and WNBPA are in their negotiations, many players have turned their attention to playing in rival leagues, such as that of Unrivaled<\/a> and Athletes Unlimited (AU) in the off-season.<\/p>\n The 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, co-founded by Collier and New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart enjoyed a hugely successful inaugural season, in which they were estimated to have generated over $27 million in revenue<\/a> – a figure they are expected to eclipse in season two. <\/p>\n Furthermore, the players are paid far more competitively, which is part of the attraction for those WNBA stars.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re confident with what we\u2019ve built in collaboration with our athletes, partners and investors,\u201d Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell – and Collier’s husband – said in a statement last week<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cWe remain consistent in our approach to pay players competitively, provide a meaningful stake in the business and keep them home year-round.\u201d<\/p>\n There is also the proposal of a league currently going by the name of ‘Project B’, which has already seen nine WNBA stars commit to participating in, including Nneka Ogwumike, Jonquel Jones, Jewell Loyd, Alyssa Thomas, Kamilla Cardoso, as well as Indiana Fever<\/a> duo Kelsey Mitchell and ‘enforcer’ Sophie Cunningham.<\/a> <\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n WNBA veteran Thomas is the latest star to sign up to play in Project B, due to commence in 2026Credit: Getty 5<\/p>\n Fever star Cunningham is one of nine names to have put pen to paper on playing in Project BCredit: Getty<\/p>\n Salaries here are touted to begin at $2 million annually, which is surplus of 10-times the amount<\/a> that Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young – who possesses the biggest annual salary in the league – makes ($252.5k).<\/p>\n Players have also expressed their gratitude for the way they were treated when playing in Unrivaled last year. <\/p>\n \u201cThe players were very vocal about how they took care of them, from the professionalism of everyone involved, to the childcare, to all of the other aspects of Unrivaled that really matter for the players,\u201d Unrivaled Breeze BC head coach Noelle Quinn said, via Yahoo! Sports. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd because of that, you see it flourishing and thriving. And you\u2019re seeing a lot of athletes still a part of it and wanting to continue to play here and grow here. Grow the game, grow their brand.\u201d<\/p>\n Back in August, there was also some speculation brewing among the players that the WNBA and its team owners were exploring the possibility of completely eliminating player participation in other leagues via the “prioritization” clause.<\/p>\n This clause, introduced in the 2020 CBA, caused a whole lot of controversy, and should it be further amended virtually seeks to attempt to make the likes of AU, Unrivaled and Project B redundant. <\/p>\n Back in July 2024, Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams opened up about her views on the WNBA’s stance on the prioritization clause – the clause that saw her essentially forced out of the WNBA <\/a> as she opted to play overseas in France due to making more money.<\/p>\n “It’s very clear that the league wants to push away all other leagues,” Williams said via\u00a0Desert Wave Media<\/a>. “It would make sense if they were paying us more here, but it still isn’t the case, even with the new proposals. And it’s very clear now that they wanna push Unrivaled out, push AU out.”<\/p>\n It is yet unknown whether an agreement will be reached by the deadline. If not, then there could either be another extension granted, or the possibility of the WNBA’s first ever lockout commencing. <\/p>\n Read More on talkSPORT<\/p>\n Only time will tell. <\/p>\n Stay up to date with the latest from\u00a0the WNBA\u00a0across all platforms – follow our dedicated\u00a0talkSPORT USA Facebook page<\/a>\u00a0and subscribe to our\u00a0talkSPORT USA YouTube channel<\/a>\u00a0for all the offseason news, interviews and more.<\/p>\n![\"WNBA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2225443195.jpg\")
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2. Kelsey Mitchell – Indiana Fever – $249,244
3. Jewell Loyd – Seattle Storm – $245,508
4. Kahleah Copper – Phoenix Mercury – $245,059
5. Arike Ogunbowale – Dallas Wings – $241,984
6. Gabby Williams – Seattle Storm – $225,000
T-7. Alyssa Thomas – Phoenix Mercury – $215,000
T-7. Satou Sabally – Phoenix Mercury – $215,000
9. Natasha Howard – Indiana Fever – $214,666
T-10. Brionna Jones – Atlanta Dream – $214,466
T-10. Brittney Griner – Atlanta Dream – $214,466<\/p>\n![\"INDIANAPOLIS,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2156508259.jpg\")
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