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WNBA Faces March 10 Deadline for CBA Talks
24 Feb
Summary
- Training camp is the first part of the offseason to be affected.
- Players will receive $9.25 million in accumulated licensing revenue.
- The core disagreement is over revenue-sharing models.
The WNBA has notified teams and the players' association that a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) must have a term sheet in place by March 10, or the 2026 season will face disruptions. Training camp, originally scheduled to begin on April 19, is expected to be the first aspect of the offseason calendar affected by this deadline.
Negotiations have been ongoing for 16 months, with the players recently submitting their latest proposal. A significant factor influencing the players' position is the confirmed achievement of the WNBA's 2025 revenue-sharing target, guaranteeing an additional $8 million for players. Furthermore, the union will distribute $9.25 million in licensing revenue, accumulated since 2020 from merchandise sales, by June 1.
The primary obstacle to a new CBA is the dispute over revenue sharing. The WNBA proposes splitting net revenue after expenses, while players aim for access to total league and team revenue. This divergence in calculations leads to a significant gap in projected salary caps for 2026, with the WNBA suggesting $5.65 million and players advocating for $9.5 million. The union had opted out of the previous CBA on October 21, 2024.
