Marathon negotiations enter day four with a $6.2M salary cap proposal, but a 25% vs. 70% revenue sharing gap threatens the May 8 season start, expansion drafts, and free agency chaos, marking the most significant labor standoff in WNBA history.
The WNBA and Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) began a fourth consecutive day of marathon bargaining sessions on Friday, March 13, without a completed term sheet for a new collective bargaining agreement, directly jeopardizing the league’s scheduled May 8 season openUSA TODAY.
Central to the deadlock is a dramatic salary cap increase offered by the league. The WNBA’s latest proposal sets the Year 1 cap at $6.2 million—more than quadruple the 2025 cap of $1.5 million—with the maximum base salary exceeding $1.3 million and climbing to nearly $2 million over the agreement’s lifeUSA TODAY. The average salary would reach $570,000 in Year 1, growing to $850,000 over the deal’s duration.
Yet this financial progress is overshadowed by a chasm on revenue sharing. The WNBPA demands 25% of gross revenue in Year 1, escalating to an average of 26% over the deal, while the league counters with an offer of over 70% of net revenue—a fundamental philosophical divideUSA TODAY. The definition of “net” versus “gross” and the inclusion of projected revenue-sharing components remain key hurdles.
“We’re proud of the deal we have on the table,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told on-site media Thursday, emphasizing “huge gains for the players” while balancing league healthESPN. Players association leadership echoed optimism, with Nneka Ogwumike stating, “We’re feeling movement. We’re sticking to the process.”
Key Issues: The Non-Negotiable Gaps
- Revenue sharing: Union seeks 25% of gross revenue (rising to 26% average) vs. league’s offer of >70% of net revenue.
- Salary cap: League’s $6.2M Year 1 cap is a massive increase but falls short of union’s < $9.5M proposal.
- Base salaries: Max salary would grow to $2M; average to $850K over deal life, with a proposed six-year term.
Strike Authorization: Players’ Leverage
In December 2025, players voted 98% in favor of authorizing the WNBPA Executive Committee to call a strike, with 93% participationYahoo Sports. This overwhelming mandate underscores player unity. In a private letter obtained by ESPN, stars Breanna Stewart and Kelsey Plum warned a work stoppage would harm the league’s financial outlook, noting, “no revenue, no revenue to share”Yahoo Sports. The executive committee stressed, “There is no WNBA without the players.”
Historical Context: No Lockouts, But Precedents Exist
The WNBA has never endured a lockout in its 30-year history, though the 2003 draft and preseason were postponed before a CBA was finalizedWNBA.com. The current standoff thus represents the most significant labor threat the league has ever faced, with the March 10 deadline to avoid a delayed season already passed.
Draft and Expansion in Limbo
The April 13 WNBA Draft and the expansion drafts for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire cannot proceed until a CBA is reached, as the rules must be negotiated within the agreementYahoo Sports. The Dallas Wings hold the No. 1 pick for a second straight year, with prospects like UConn’s Azzi Fudd and UCLA’s Lauren Betts in the mix, but all draft preparations are frozenYahoo Sports. For the 2026 expansion teams, the compressed timeline between a hypothetical deal and the May 8 season start creates immense roster-building pressure.
Free Agency Chaos Looming
Over 100 players avoided signing contracts beyond the 2025 season, anticipating a new CBA with higher salariesYahoo Sports. Without a deal, free agency—including core designation rules that govern player movement—remains in legal limbo. This uncertainty could trigger a chaotic market if a CBA is reached at the last minute, with teams and players scrambling to negotiate under new financial parameters.
What This Means for Fans
For fans, the deadlock threatens the league’s milestone 30th season celebrations, including Commissioner’s Cup (June 1-17) and All-Star Weekend in Chicago (July 24-27)USA TODAY. The delay also impacts the highly anticipated debut of expansion teams Toronto and Portland, whose marketing and ticket sales campaigns are built around a known roster construction timeline. The prospect of a strike or lockout erodes the momentum built by a record-breaking 2025 season and the success of the Unrivaled league.
The marathon sessions, often stretching past 3 a.m., signal both sides’ commitment to finding a resolution. But with the gap on revenue sharing representing a philosophical rift over the league’s economic model, the path to a deal remains unclear. The coming days will determine whether the WNBA’s 30th season tips off on schedule or faces an unprecedented disruption.
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