WNBA โPlayers Closer toโข Newโ CBA Deal โขwithโค Proposedโ $1.1 Million Maximum โSalary and Revenue Share
NEW YORK – November 19, 2025 โข- The WNBA has โขpresented โขa new Collective Bargainingโ Agreement (CBA) proposal that includes a maximum player salary of $1.1 million and a revenue-sharing model, accordingโ to reports from ESPN and the Associated โคPress. The offer,โฃ introduced during a negotiation meeting this week,โฃ signals a potential breakthrough in months of contentious talksโ with the โคWNBPA.
If accepted, the proposal would address a key demand from the โplayers, who opted out of the currentโ CBA โin October 2024, one day after the New Yorkโ Liberty won their first championship. The WNBPA had prioritized revenue share in โขits โnegotiation priorities, citing โthat โขplayersโค currently receiveโข less than 10% โฃof โขtotal league revenue – a stark contrast to the NBA’s guaranteed 50-51% share.
The new offer also includes a significant increase in minimum โขsalaries. League minimums wouldโฃ exceed $220,000, with an average salary of more than $460,000. These figures represent a substantial jump from the currentโค CBA, โwhich set theโ minimum compensation at $66,079 and the maximum atโค $249,244โข this past season. The updated terms โwould โคbenefit over 180 playersโฃ immediately upon taking effect.
Negotiations have been fraught with tension, with players and the league clashing over financialโ openness andโ theโข futureโข of the WNBA. Public criticismโ fromโ players like Napheesa Collier โdirected at WNBAโค Commissioner cathy Engelbert โขhighlighted a fractured relationship between league leadership and athletes.
“I’ve only had a โfew โprivate conversations with cathy,” Las Vegas Acesโ headโค coach Becky Hammon toldโ CNBC. “To โme,her โprivate conversations thatโ she’s had with players,or her lack of the conversations,have led to some rocky relationship status with the players. When the โคplayersโ speak, peopleโค need to sit upโ and listen. I think โฃshe’s sitting up andโ listening now. I hope sheโค would โฃhave done it earlier. I don’t know โif [Engelbert] can ever, kind โฃof, retract and get that tractionโฃ back from those conversations.”
Whileโ the WNBA โฃfront office has expressedโค concerns that a โคrevenue-sharing model could jeopardize the league’s long-term stability, players argue โa lackโข ofโฃ transparency has prevented them โคfrom accurately assessing the league’s financialโ health.
This is the first instance of positive feedback โto a โขWNBA proposal,raising hopes that a deal can be reached before the November 31 deadline to avertโค a potential lockout.
