The WNBA and its players’ union have agreed to extend the current collective bargaining agreement until Jan. 9, just before the previous deadline expired on Sunday night. This extension, similar to the previous one, allows either party to terminate it with a 48-hour notice.
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the league’s latest proposal outlines a guaranteed base salary of $1 million for max players in 2026, with potential revenue sharing boosting total earnings to over $1.2 million. The average player salary is expected to surpass $500,000, while the minimum salary is projected to exceed $225,000 in the initial year. The proposed salary cap for 2026 is $5 million, linked directly to revenue growth each year under the CBA.
Initially, a 30-day extension was granted beyond the original Oct. 31 deadline, which was due to expire just before midnight on Sunday. Both parties engaged in discussions over the holiday weekend in hopes of reaching an agreement. The players’ union suggested a six-week extension after the league proposed a shorter one, expressing expectations for significant progress from the league during this period.
With the immediate focus on the expansion draft for Portland and Toronto, the likelihood of either side terminating the extension remains low. Free agency, typically occurring in late January, is the next significant matter for both parties, given that nearly all veteran players are currently free agents. Players had signed one-year contracts last season in anticipation of substantial salary increases once a new CBA is finalized.
Ongoing negotiations have revolved around salaries, revenue sharing, and various player demands such as enhanced retirement benefits, standardized charter flight travel, and improved team facilities. The league’s recent proposal includes revenue sharing and the possibility of multiple players per team having a maximum salary of $1.1 million, increasing annually.
Following the expiration of the previous CBA in 2019, both sides agreed to a 60-day extension before ultimately ratifying a new deal in January 2020.
