The WNBPA Players Union is adamant that players get a share of basketball-related revenue, like NBA players do, instead of set player salary increases, according to Alexa Philippou of ESPN. Currently ,the
WNBA has proposed that maximum salaries go to as high as $1.1 million.
In addition, the $1.1 million figure isn’t a $1.1 million salary. It is based on a combination of a supermax salary of $800,000 to $850,000 plus some revenue-sharing payments, according to Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports. Here is the specific quote:
Multiple sources familiar with the league’s labor negotiations said that the numbers are misleading. While salaries can reach a maximum of more than $1.1 million in the league’s offer, the base supermax contract would still pay between $800,000 and $850,000 annually—as was the case in early October. The $1.1 million figure represents combined earnings from a base salary and additional potential revenue sharing, the league sources said. Under the league’s offer, no player would sign a contract in 2026 with a base salary of $1.1 million.
Costabile added that the recent CBA for the 2025 provision included the possibility of getting revenue-sharing payments if the league hit certain targets. However, this never happened. Furthermore, Costabile cited a 2022 Bloomberg article stating that WNBA players’ base salaries are just 9.3 percent of the league’s annual revenue. That’s a far cry from what the NBA players get, which is about 44.74 percent.
The good news is that the league and union are still negotiating. The bad news is that the sides are far apart and that while player salaries are likely going up in 2026, it’s still very possible that the there could be a work stoppage in a few days.
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