A close-up of the WNBA logo on the court before the WNBA game between the Atlanta Dream and the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 1, 2025 in Uncasville, Connecticut.
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The Women’s National Basketball Association and its players’ association are inching closer to a collective bargaining agreement, two days away from a self-imposed deadline.
The parties met around the clock at a midtown New York hotel and negotiations to reach a deal continued into the night, according to a person familiar with the process, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. Nine proposals have been exchanged between the two sides in recent days, addressing nearly all of the issues under discussion, the person said.
The negotiations come at a time when women’s sports are experiencing significant economic growth, driven by large media deals and strong demand.
The WNBA previously said a new CBA would need to be in place by March 10 to start the season as scheduled. Negotiations continued Thursday. It is unclear how this will affect the start of the season, which is scheduled to be postponed.
WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike told reporters late Wednesday that the players are “feeling movement” in negotiations. The players’ association has stated that it has and will continue to do its best to negotiate.
“We want to play and we hear that from the other side,” Ogwumike told reporters.
The league’s latest proposal includes increases in nearly every category, according to a copy of the details obtained by CNBC.
According to the proposal, the league would set the salary cap at $6.2 million, four times the current cap, up from the current cap of $1.5 million. According to the proposal, that cap would increase each year based on increased team and league revenue.
Average salaries also increase significantly, starting at $570,000 in the first year and rising to $850,000 in the sixth year. Another person familiar with the current CBA said the average salary for a player in the league now is about $120,000. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
The proposal includes a maximum salary increase of more than $1.3 million to nearly $2 million. The current maximum contract value under the existing CBA is just under $250,000, the second person added.
However, the two sides are still at odds over revenue sharing, according to people familiar with the matter.
The latest proposal from the league includes a new uncapped revenue-sharing system tied to both league and team revenue, according to a version obtained by CNBC. It no longer includes a minimum threshold for sharing to be triggered.
The league is also offering new minimum standards, including charter flights, first-class travel amenities and increased performance bonuses at all league events, in addition to facility upgrades such as locker rooms, weight rooms and treatment areas.
The WNBA season begins on Friday, May 8th, with the draft scheduled for April 13th.
