Caitlin Clark may have the chance to secure a maximum contract well before initially anticipated. On Sunday evening, the WNBA introduced its latest collective bargaining agreement (CBA) proposal to the players, featuring a significant pay raise and new rules enabling some young talents to qualify for top-tier salaries earlier in their careers. This proposal arrives shortly after the players’ union submitted its most recent counteroffer.
Eligibility Adjustments Could Speed Up Max Salaries for Top Performers
The proposed deal includes a clause allowing rookies who earn first- or second-team All-WNBA honors to become eligible for a maximum salary starting in their fourth season. Furthermore, these players would no longer be subject to franchise tag restrictions following their max contract extension. Under these terms, Clark would qualify for her max contract by 2027, while Aliyah Boston of the Fever could receive such a deal as soon as this year, and Wings’ guard Paige Bueckers would become eligible in 2028.
Significant Salary Cap Increase and Enhanced Player Pay Featured in Proposal
This agreement would also boost the salary cap to $5.75 million in the first year, marking a striking rise from the $1.5 million cap set for 2025—an increase of 280%. Over the six-year duration, the cap is projected to reach $8.5 million. Maximum player salaries would jump from $249,000 to $1.3 million, and the league’s average salary would rise sharply from $120,000 to $540,000 initially.
Revenue Sharing and Ongoing Disagreements Continue to Stall Talks
Despite these pay improvements, the league did not alter its revenue-sharing approach in this latest offer. The WNBA suggested allocating 70% of net revenue to players, whereas the union demands an average of 26% of gross revenue, which accounts for income prior to expenses. The league has firmly rejected the union’s gross revenue proposal, sustaining a key point of contention in current negotiations.
Union Vice President Highlights Willingness to Play While Warning of Strike Risks
Kelsey Plum, vice president of the players’ union, addressed the updates and the potential stakes involved.
“I want to play, and players want to play,”
Plum said.
“Obviously, we’re going to continue to negotiate and do everything we possibly can to get this done in a timely fashion. But obviously, a strike would be the worst thing for both sides. … Because we are in a revenue [share system], so no revenue, no revenue to share.”
?Kelsey Plum, Vice President, WNBA Players’ Union
Season Deadlines and Upcoming Events Add Pressure to Finalize Agreement
The league has set a firm March 10 deadline for ratifying the new CBA to guarantee the regular season begins on May 8 as scheduled. If an agreement is reached by then, the ratification process would likely take about three weeks. The timeline is pressing, especially with an expansion draft planned for April 6 to incorporate new teams from Toronto and Portland. Free agency is slated to open on April 12, followed by the 2026 draft on April 13, making swift resolution critical.
Implications of the New Proposal for Players and the League’s Future
The WNBA’s proposed deal marks a substantial step toward enhancing player salaries and accelerating earning potential for rising stars like Caitlin Clark. While the increased salary cap and max contract eligibility offer promising prospects, unresolved revenue sharing disagreements continue to complicate negotiations. With deadlines approaching rapidly and significant league milestones ahead, how these talks conclude will have lasting effects on the players, the league’s growth, and the upcoming 2026 season.
Kelsey Plum, first VP of the WNBPA: "I want to play, and players want to play. Obviously we're going to continue to negotiate and do everything we possibly can to get this done in a timely fashion. But obviously a strike would be the worst thing for both sides."
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) March 2, 2026
