With the WNBA‘s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) deadline set for March 10, tensions remain high between the league and the WNBPA as talks stall over revenue sharing. Breanna Stewart, a leading player for the New York Liberty, confirmed in a recent Fox News Digital interview that the two sides are still far apart on how to divide income.
Disagreement Centers on Revenue Sharing Model
Stewart explained the core dispute involves whether the players’ association will receive a share of gross revenue or a portion of a shared basketball income (SBI) pool.
The PA is asking for gross and the league, the WNBA, is asking to deal in an SBI, which is a shared basketball income, where you negotiate how much money goes into that pot and that’s shared to players,
Stewart said.
That’s the sticking point, that’s the part where any time we get to those conversations, we never are on the same side.
Ongoing Negotiations Reflect Familiar Challenges
This deadlock reiterates challenges fans have been hearing about for weeks and offers little optimism as the March 10 deadline approaches. While players remain committed to starting the season on schedule, the union’s current proposal of 27.5% of the WNBA’s gross revenue—down from a previous 30% ask—has not swayed the league. The WNBA argues that this percentage would result in significant financial losses.
According to a source familiar with recent proposals shared with High Post Hoops, the league has offered a new revenue-sharing framework that includes an uncapped system based on both league and team revenue. The proposal also features a salary cap linked to revenue growth, with projected average player salaries exceeding $535,000 in the first year and increasing to over $775,000 by 2031. Maximum salaries would start near $1.3 million, rising to nearly $2 million by 2031.
March 10 Deadline Could Determine Upcoming Season Schedule
If the parties reach an agreement by the March 10 deadline, the WNBA can proceed with key offseason events without delay. This would allow expansion drafts for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire to take place between April 1 and 6, carefully avoiding conflict with the NCAA Final Four tournament in Phoenix on April 3 and 5. Free agency would then run from April 7 to April 18, training camps would open on April 19, and the WNBA Draft is scheduled for April 13.
The resolution of this revenue sharing dispute will play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth start to the 2024 season and maintaining momentum for league growth, particularly as expansion teams enter the mix and player salaries are set to rise significantly over the coming years.
