Bold opening: WNBA players push for a significantly more ambitious revenue split while securing key housing protections, signaling the start of a high-stakes negotiation under a tight deadline.
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) delivered another updated collective bargaining agreement (CBA) proposal to the WNBA on Tuesday, signaling fresh concessions on several hot-button issues such as revenue sharing and housing. Multiple sources familiar with the talks confirmed the details to The Post.
The union is asking for an average of 27.5 percent of the teams’ and league’s gross revenue over the life of the agreement, including 25 percent in the first year. This follows a prior proposal in which the WNBPA sought 31 percent on average (28 percent in Year 1). While this represents a reduction, it still places a strong emphasis on players receiving a substantial share of league earnings.
Housing remains a central benefit for players. The WNBPA is requesting that team-provided housing be available to all players in the early years of the new deal. They are, however, open to gradually phasing out this requirement for the league’s higher-paid players on multi-year, guaranteed contracts.
Under the previous CBA, players who did not use team-provided housing could receive a stipend to live elsewhere. The union has agreed to eliminate this stipend going forward.
The WNBPA did not comment on the new proposal, and the WNBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
ESPN first reported details of the WNBPA’s proposal, which also includes a proposed salary cap of under $9.5 million in Year 1 (down from the $10.5 million the union had previously pushed for).
The counterproposal comes 11 days after the WNBA issued its own response to the players’ prior proposal from Christmas morning.
In its latest bid, the league made some concessions of its own, including raising the Year 1 salary cap from $5 million to $5.65 million. The league also clarified policies ensuring housing coverage for specific groups of players, including two newly drafted developmental players, first-year players, and those on minimum contracts.
Both sides are racing against time, with the 2026 season scheduled to begin on May 8. A CBA ratification is required before major mechanisms like the two-team expansion draft, free agency, and the college draft can move forward.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver commented over the weekend that he isn’t ready to declare a hard deadline that would delay the 2026 season, but he emphasized that he would like to apply pressure to accelerate progress. He spoke of a desire for both sides to operate with a heightened sense of urgency.
Overall, the exchange of concessions on both sides is a sign of progress within the bargaining process, reflecting the ongoing give-and-take that characterizes major league negotiations. Controversy-ready question: Do you think the revised figures strike the right balance between player earnings and league sustainability, or should the focus shift more toward long-term revenue growth and broader fan investment? Share your thoughts in the comments.
