The WNBA's latest proposal to the players' union, delivered on Friday, introduces modest revenue-sharing increases and housing concessions, according to two sources familiar with the negotiations. The primary point of contention remains revenue sharing. Union president Nneka Ogwumike stated on Friday, prior to the submission of the league's proposal, that the two sides were not close to reaching an agreement on this topic in their efforts to strike a new collective bargaining agreement.
The players' desire for approximately 30% of gross revenue in the first year was presented in their last proposal, sent in December. In contrast, the league's new proposal offers players over 70% of net revenue, representing their share of the profits after expenses are deducted. These expenses encompass upgraded facilities, charter flights, five-star accommodations, medical services, security, and arena usage.
The salary cap for 2026 in Friday's offer is set at $5.65 million for the initial year, a slight increase from the previous proposal. The league also proposed a housing change for players. Players earning the league's proposed minimum salary and rookies in their first season will receive one-bedroom apartments, provided by the team, for the first three years of the new CBA. After this period, players will be responsible for their own housing costs.
Players traded during the season will also have their housing covered, while the two developmental players added this year will receive studio apartments. All other players will need to pay for their own housing. Ogwumike emphasized the importance of housing, citing safety, efficiency, and convenience as key factors. She noted that housing has always been provided and is one of the largest benefits for professional athletes.
The union has proposed methods to cover the cost of housing with the players' share of revenue. The league's proposal also includes meeting specific standards for practice facilities, ensuring players have access to exclusive locker rooms, training rooms, and weight rooms. Many teams already have these facilities or are in the process of building them.
This new proposal comes after a three-hour meeting between the two sides at the NBA offices on Monday, following a six-week wait for a response from the league to the union's last proposal. The league previously deemed the previous proposal insufficiently different from an earlier one, as revenue-sharing numbers had not changed significantly.
The absence of a new CBA could potentially delay the 2026 season, already affecting the expansion draft for Toronto and Portland. The last CBA was announced in January 2020, and the process from reaching a new agreement to the start of free agency could take up to two months. With a significant salary raise expected in the new CBA, 80% of players in the league are free agents this offseason, presenting the largest opportunity for player movement in WNBA history.
A delay would negatively impact both parties, as missed games would result in lost revenue, sponsorships, and television money. Players voted to grant union leadership the right to strike in December, but Ogwumike assured that a strike is not imminent. The union has posted a video about the 1964 NBA All-Star Game strike on social media, but Ogwumike emphasized the need for further negotiations before any strike action.
