As you are aware, the WNBA and WNBPA (the players union) is still negotiating the terms of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. If there is one piece of good news from over the past couple weeks, it’s
that there is no work stoppage. WNBA team owners haven’t locked out the players, a situation that until very recently seemed to be the more likely bet. And the players didn’t go on strike. Therefore, that’s good news. To be exact, there is a 30 day extension on CBA talks, and the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery will be on Nov. 23.
Still, we wanted to give you a couple links to some resources on what is at stake with the WNBA and the WNBPA. They are:
- A WInsidr article by Christian Conway on the legal consequences and what the issue the players want negotiated most: revenue sharing. Currently, WNBA players are given a set amount of money with set increases, unlike the NBA where the NBPA, the NBA players union get a share of basketball related income. It’s unclear how much revenue the players are receiving. But this much is clear. The players want a share of the revenue, not just salary increases.
- ESPN has a strong piece here on the various player groups ranging from rookies to veterans to those who have ownership interests in winter leagues to those who play and make money in overseas basketball leagues and what they may be looking for with the next CBA.
I would say that either way, WNBA players will receive much larger salaries and benefits given the league’s new media deal which kicks in next year. However, the degree of these increases and the revenue share split will likely be the sticking points on just how well received the next CBA will be by the players.
