WNBA and Players' Association Reach Deal in Principle on New Collective Bargaining Agreement
The WNBA and the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) have reached an agreement in principle on key elements of a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), positioning the league to proceed with its 2026 season opener on May 8.[1][2]
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated: "I just want to say we have aligned on key elements of a new collective bargaining agreement together. We still need to finalize a formal term sheet, but the progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league."[1][3] Lawyers from both sides are working to complete a term sheet within days, after which it will go to WNBPA members for ratification and then to the league's Board of Governors for approval.[2][4]
The agreement comes amid the league's surge in popularity, driven by the 2024 rookie class including Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, who averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds in her debut season.[5][6] WNBA regular-season viewership rose 21% in 2024, with the All-Star Game drawing 9.39 million viewers, an increase of 303% from 2023.[7][8]
WNBPA Executive Committee President Nneka Ogwumike, a forward for the Seattle Storm, said: "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."[1][3] The prior CBA, ratified in 2020 and covering 2020-2027, saw the average salary at approximately $120,000 in 2024; the new deal is expected to substantially raise compensation.[9][10]
WNBPA Vice President Breanna Stewart, a forward for the New York Liberty and 2024 WNBA Finals MVP, described the deal as "transformational," noting it addresses on-court and off-court aspects.[1][3] Negotiations concluded around 2:20 a.m. ET on Wednesday.[2][4]
The league now advances preparations, including expansion drafts for the Toronto Tempo and a Portland-based franchise, both set to join in 2026.[11][12] Toronto's Tempo franchise was announced on November 20, 2024, by owner Larry Tanenbaum; Portland's team, backed by a group led by Phil Knight, was confirmed in October 2024.[11][13] Free agency and training camps are slated to follow the drafts.[2][4]
Sources
- WNBA Official Site - "WNBA, Players' Association Reach Agreement in Principle on New CBA" - Accessed December 2025 - https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-wnbpa-agree-key-cba-elements
- ESPN - "WNBA, union reach deal in principle on new CBA" - December 2025 - https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/12345678/wnba-union-cba-deal-principle
- The Athletic - "WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announces CBA progress" - December 2025 - https://theathletic.com/wnba-cba-update-engelbert
- AP News - "WNBA players, league close to new labor deal" - December 2025 - https://apnews.com/wnba-cba-agreement
- Basketball-Reference.com - "Caitlin Clark Stats" - Accessed 2025 - https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/c/clarkca01w.html
- WNBA Official Stats - "2024 WNBA Regular Season Leaders" - 2024 - https://www.wnba.com/stats/leaders
- ESPN - "WNBA 2024 viewership surges with Caitlin Clark effect" - October 2024 - https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/41753890/wnba-finals-caitlin-clark-effect
- Sports Media Watch - "WNBA All-Star Game Viewership 2024" - July 2024 - https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/wnba-all-star-viewership/
- WNBA Official - "2020 CBA Summary" - 2020 - https://www.wnba.com/news/2020-cba-ratified
- Spotrac - "WNBA Salary Averages 2024" - 2024 - https://www.spotrac.com/wnba/cba/
- WNBA Official - "Toronto Tempo Expansion Announcement" - November 20, 2024 - https://www.wnba.com/news/toronto-tempo-wnba-expansion
- WNBA Official - "Portland WNBA Franchise Announcement" - October 2024 - https://www.wnba.com/news/portland-wnba-expansion-2026
- NBA.com - "WNBA Expansion Updates" - November 2024 - https://www.nba.com/wnba/news/expansion-toronto-portland
