The WNBA and its players’ union have entered into a temporary halt on league operations starting Monday. This decision came after the failure to reach a new collective bargaining agreement or extend the existing one by the deadline on Friday. Both parties are currently engaged in negotiations, particularly focusing on salary and revenue sharing, with significant differences still to be resolved.
The moratorium will put a pause on the initial phase of free agency, where teams would typically issue qualifying offers and franchise tag designations to players. Prior to this, the WNBA was obligated, under U.S. labor laws, to allow teams to send out qualifying offers based on the expired CBA agreement. Teams were set to begin sending out offers to players on Sunday.
While the moratorium is a logical step for both sides, they remain at odds on crucial matters. The league’s recent offer includes a proposal to increase the maximum base salary to $1.3 million by 2026, with the potential for further growth through revenue sharing. Additionally, players could receive over 70% of net revenue, factoring in expenses such as upgraded facilities, charter flights, medical services, and more.
In the league’s proposal, the average salary by 2026 would exceed $530,000, a substantial increase from the current $120,000, and could rise to over $770,000 over the agreement’s duration. The minimum salary is also set to see a significant boost, starting at around $250,000 in the initial year. Notably, young star players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers would receive nearly double the league minimum under this proposal.
A key point of contention revolves around revenue sharing. The union’s counter proposal suggests a player share of approximately 30% of gross revenue, calculated before expenses, with teams operating under a $10.5 million salary cap for player signings. The union’s plan includes a gradual increase in the revenue sharing percentage annually.