The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) received the WNBA’s latest counterproposal on Friday night, marking a slow progression in the ongoing labor negotiations update that remains unresolved as the 2026 season start date approaches. Despite some modest adjustments from the league, key issues such as revenue sharing and salary caps remain points of contention between the two sides.
Details of the League’s Updated Proposal
After a six-week pause since the WNBPA submitted their most recent offer around Christmas, the WNBA’s response showed only minor modifications compared to the previous offer, sources close to the negotiations told The Post. Critically, the league did not offer any significant improvements on the revenue-sharing structure, maintaining its position of allocating approximately 70 percent of net revenue to players, which translates to about 15 percent of gross league and team revenue. In contrast, the players are pushing for 30 percent of gross revenues.
The league has proposed increasing the team salary cap to $5.65 million by 2026, a figure that remains well below the WNBPA’s proposed $10.5 million cap. However, the WNBA did include clearer guidelines in its counteroffer to guarantee housing support for specific player groups, such as developmental players and those on the lowest contracts. Under this plan, teams would provide studios for two new developmental players, while first-year and minimum salary players would be offered one-bedroom apartments.
Additionally, the league agreed to codify standards for team facilities, though precise details about new facility improvements were not disclosed publicly. This move aligns with the union’s push to improve working conditions for players across all teams.
Recent Negotiation Efforts and Stalemate
Labor talks had reached a standstill as the WNBPA awaited the league’s counterproposal. Several members of the union’s executive committee, including WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike, met with league officials in person on Monday to try to reignite progress. The three-hour meeting featured league officials presenting slides highlighting benefits and improvements they are willing to offer.
Among these enhancements are a supermax base salary projected to begin at $1.1 million in 2026, increasing to $1.8 million by 2030. The average base salary for the next season could rise sharply to roughly $465,000, up from around $102,000 in 2025. The league also proposed additional guaranteed contracts, two developmental player roster spots per team, increased performance bonuses, and new salary cap exceptions for players who are pregnant or suffer season-ending injuries.
Despite these outlined gains, Friday’s league proposal did little to bridge the fundamental revenue sharing gap. Multiple sources have warned that if a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is not finalized within the next two weeks, a delay to the 2026 WNBA season is increasingly likely, threatening the league’s schedule and competitive continuity.
Longstanding Differences and Perspectives in Negotiations
The drawn-out talks largely stem from how divergent the players’ and league’s initial offers were. As some insiders described, if the negotiations’ progress were measured along a football field, the league’s starting point was near the 40-yard line, while the players’ stance was much further back. This divergence has created a tense environment where compromise has been slow and difficult to achieve.
Notably, the players appear to have moderated their demands somewhat as talks continued, while the league has cautiously expanded its proposals, including the recent inclusion of team revenue in their revenue share calculations—something absent from earlier offers.
At this critical stage, the union now holds the ball and must decide its next steps. The players voted in December to empower the WNBPA with the ability to call a strike if necessary, a historic prospect for the league, which has never experienced a work stoppage. This vote represents only one phase in a potential sequence of labor actions, but it signals the seriousness of the players’ position.
Players’ Readiness to Take Strong Measures
“We will not shy away from doing what is necessary to achieve a fair and equitable agreement.” – Nneka Ogwumike, WNBPA President
While neither side desires to see the 2026 season postponed, there is growing determination among players to stand firm in negotiations to secure the terms they believe are deserved, even if that commitment means a temporary disruption to league operations.
The stakes are high as the WNBA grapples with balancing financial realities and the demands for fair compensation, better working conditions, and stronger player protections. The outcome of these labor talks will not only affect the upcoming season but could also reshape the league’s business and cultural footprint for years to come.
