WNBA CBA: Players’ Salaries to Rise to $1M+ by 2032 – Nneka Ogwumike Interview

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) overwhelmingly ratified a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on Monday, a deal hailed by union leadership as a “transformational” moment for the league and its players. More than 90% of players participated in the ratification vote, with the results described as unanimous, according to WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike.

The seven-year agreement, which is subject to approval by the WNBA Board of Governors, establishes a groundbreaking revenue-sharing model – a first in women’s sports – and significantly increases player compensation. The salary cap will jump to $7 million for the 2026 season and is projected to exceed $10 million by the complete of the deal, tied to league and team revenue growth. The maximum player salary will rise to $1.4 million in 2026, with the potential to surpass $2.4 million by 2032.

“Being able to have your worth tied mostly in your salary is all that we’ve been fighting for, and it’s what we were able to achieve,” Ogwumike told CNBC Sport. The average player salary will increase to $583,000 in 2026, a substantial rise from the $120,000 average in 2025, which previously prompted many WNBA players to seek supplemental income by playing overseas during the offseason.

The new CBA is expected to alter the landscape of offseason play for WNBA athletes. Ogwumike indicated that the increased earning potential within the WNBA may lead players to reconsider opportunities abroad. “Prioritizing where you want to play is going to seem a lot different now that we’ve been able to negotiate a structure, a salary structure, that is tied to the revenue of the business,” she said.

The agreement follows over a year of negotiations between the WNBA and the WNBPA, culminating in a tentative deal reached last Wednesday. While the terms were initially described as “transformational” by WNBPA Vice President Breanna Stewart, some players had previously voiced concerns regarding WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s communication and empathy. Ogwumike, though, expressed optimism about a collaborative future.

“I told her that we’re standing here with you, Cathy,” Ogwumike said, referring to Engelbert. “We were able to arrive to this deal and go through the process of this deal, however bumpy or smooth it was, we got here. It’s important for her to understand that we as players are at the table with her and all WNBA leadership to have achieved something that’s incredibly historical.”

The ratified CBA paves the way for the 2026 WNBA regular season to begin on schedule, May 8. The agreement as well includes provisions for an expanded regular season starting in 2027 and continued housing support for players.