The WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association have agreed to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement, the two sides officially declared on Friday. The agreement, which is still pending ratification by the league’s board of governors, ends a bitter labor fight that lasted for more than a year and ensures that the 2026 season will start on time. The WNBPA declared Monday that there was unanimous approval from the players to ratify the agreement, with over 90% participation in the vote.
The seven-year agreement will begin with the 2026 season and run through 2032, with an opt-out after the sixth year in 2031.
“This Collective Bargaining Agreement represents a defining moment in the WNBA’s 30-year history and all of women’s professional sports,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert reported in a press release. “Since its inception, the WNBA has been shaped by extraordinary athletes who believed in the league’s future. The agreement is a testament to that belief and to the tremendous progress we have achieved together.”
What does this mean for the schedule?
The 2026 WNBA regular season, the 30th in league history, is set to tip off on May 8. Before that, the 2026 WNBA Draft will be held on April 13. Training camps will then open on April 19, followed by preseason games beginning on April 25.
The dates for the double expansion draft for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo and free agency are still not official, though ESPN revealed teams were given tentative timelines back in February that have the expansion draft process running from April 1-6, and free agency running from April 7-18.
Each team will play 44 games in 2026, but the length of the season will increase throughout the CBA, up to 50 games in 2027 and 2028 and then 52 games from 2029-2032.
Major pay raises on the way
The new CBA “establishes the first comprehensive revenue-sharing model in women’s professional sports history,” per the league’s press release.
“For the first time, player salaries are tied to a truly meaningful share of league revenue, driving exponential growth in the salary cap, increasing average compensation beyond half a million dollars, and raising the professional standard across facilities, staffing, and support,” WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike told Front Office Sports earlier this week. “It strengthens housing and retirement, and expands resources for family planning and parental leave. It redefines what it means to be a professional in this league.”
The salary cap will be $7 million in 2026 — up from $1.5 million in 2025 — and is expected to grow to more than $11 million by 2032.
Players will earn significant pay raises in 2026 and will see their salaries climb even further over the course of the deal. Here’s a look at the minimum, average and supermax numbers in 2025 and 2026, and the projected numbers by the end of the deal in 2032.
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2025
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$66,079
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$120,000
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$249,244
|
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2026
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$270K — $300K (based on years of service)
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$583,000
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$1.4 million
|
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2026
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$340K — $380K (based on years of service)
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$1 million+
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$2.4 million
|
Notably, there will also be a new rookie scale contract that will see the No. 1 overall pick make $500,000 in 2026. All current rookie scale contracts will also be adjusted upward to align with the new salary scale. Furthermore, the agreement “creates an expedited pathway to maximum-level contracts for players on rookie deals who earn MVP or All-WNBA First or Second Team honors.”
The new CBA will also provide major increases to all performance and award bonuses. Beyond the 2026 season, these numbers will increase along with the salary cap. Here’s a look at some of the notable differences:
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WNBA champion
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$22,908
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$60,000
|
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All-WNBA First Team
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$10,300
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$30,000
|
|
All-Defensive First Team
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$1,500
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$15,000
|
|
MVP
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$15,450
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$60,000
|
|
Defensive Player of the Year
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$5,150
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$30,000
|
|
Rookie of the Year
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$5,150
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$15,000
|
|
All-Star
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$2,575
|
$15,000
|
|
All-Star Game MVP
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$5,150
|
$20,000
|
Housing is among other key benefits for players
While the dispute over revenue sharing was the primary reason it took so long for the two sides to agree to a deal, there was also a major debate over housing benefits. The league has been required to provide housing (or a stipend) to players since 1999, but wanted to phase it out. The players stood their ground.
Under the new agreement, league-provided housing will be available for all players through 2028, and for those making under $500,000 in 2029 and 2030. Players on the newly created developmental roster spots will be provided housing in every year of the deal.
Here are some other key benefits the players will receive as part of the new CBA:
- League-wide charter travel
- New facility standards requiring teams to provide enhanced training and treatment resources
- Expanded staffing requirements, including access to additional physicians, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, physical and massage therapists, and nutritionists
- Increases in team contributions to 401(k) retirement accounts
- Enhanced life insurance benefits
- A one-time recognition payment for retired players based on years of service: $100,000 for 12-plus years of service, $50,000 for 8-11 years of service and $30,000 for 5-7 years of service
- Expanded family planning benefits
- Expanded mental health coverage
Roster changes
The new CBA introduces a number of changes to roster construction that will benefit players and force teams to be more discerning with their roster-building decisions, especially in conjunction with salary increases. Here are some key changes:
- Teams must roster 12 players
While standard roster sizes did not change, teams now must carry a full roster of 12 players. In the past, teams had been allowed to carry 11 players for salary cap reasons.
- New player development spots
Instead of changing the standard roster size, the league has created a new player development system. Each team will have two developmental roster spots that do not count toward the salary cap. The official rules regarding these developmental players have not yet been declared, but previous reporting indicated that they would receive a stipend and full benefits, and could appear in up to 10 games in a season. To play in more than that they would need to be signed to a prorated minimum contract.
- Changes to the core player system
The WNBA’s core player designation, which operates similar to the NFL’s franchise tag, will still exist in the new CBA. However, starting in 2027, players with seven-plus years of experience will be ineligible to be cored.
- Exceptions for pregnant players
In the new CBA, pregnant players will have a de facto no trade clause. Teams must obtain their permission before trading them. Additionally, there will be a pregnancy and childbirth salary cap exception, though the exact details there have not yet been declared.
