Breaking the Stalemate: WNBA Submits Historic CBA Proposal to Players

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In a late-night development on Friday, February 6, 2026, the WNBA officially submitted a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) proposal to the WNBPA, ending a tense six-week wait for a counteroffer. The proposal comes just days after a high-stakes, three-hour in-person meeting in New York where stars like Caitlin Clark, Breanna Stewart, and Kelsey Plum reportedly expressed frustration over a “lack of urgency” from league leadership.

With the 30th anniversary season set to tip off on May 8, the pressure is mounting to finalize a deal that would unlock frozen free agency and the stalled expansion draft for Toronto and Portland.

The Million-Dollar Milestone

The centerpiece of the league’s offer is a seismic shift in player compensation, reflecting the explosive growth in league revenue and viewership over the past year.

Max Salary Breakthrough: For the first time in history, the league is offering a maximum base salary of $1 million for 2026, which could reach $1.3 million through a new revenue-sharing model.

The “Paige & Caitlin” Effect: The proposal includes nearly doubling the rookie-scale contracts for top picks, a direct response to the market value of stars like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers.

Average & Minimums: The league’s proposal would see the average salary jump to roughly $530,000 (up from $120,000), with league minimums rising to approximately $250,000.

The Sticking Point: Gross vs. Net Revenue

Despite the record-breaking salary numbers, the two sides remain philosophically divided on the “math” of the league’s prosperity.

Feature	League Proposal	Players’ Demand
Share %	>70% of Net Revenue	30% of Gross Revenue
Calculation	Profit after expenses (charter flights, etc.)	Total revenue before any expenses
Salary Cap	Projected $5 Million per team	$10.5 Million per team

WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike noted that while the “million-dollar max” makes for a great headline, the union remains skeptical of a $5 million salary cap if the league is simultaneously projecting $500,000 average salaries for 12-player rosters.

Beyond the Money: 37 Key Concessions

The league’s Friday night proposal also included a “slide deck” of 37 concessions aimed at improving player welfare and league operations:

Codified Charter Travel: Making private flights the mandatory league standard for all teams.

Pregnancy Protections: Granting players the right to refuse trades while pregnant.

Roster Expansion: Adding two “developmental” player slots per team to address the league’s notorious roster crunch.

Facility Standards: Establishing baseline requirements for training facilities, medical services, and security.

The Countdown to May 8

While Ogwumike expressed confidence that a 2026 season will happen, she warned that “significant work remains” for it to start on time. Because nearly 80% of the league is currently entering free agency, any further delay in ratifying the CBA could push back training camps, which are tentatively scheduled to begin in mid-April.