WNBPA secures landmark WNBA labour deal raising player pay
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 6
WNBPA secures landmark WNBA labour deal raising player pay
8 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 6
The ratified March agreement sets an estimated average salary of $583,000, a $270,000 minimum and top pay of $1.4m in the league’s 30th season.
Players say the deal’s revenue sharing and higher wages could let them avoid overseas off-season work, support families, invest for retirement and stay healthier for the WNBA season.
The previous CBA expired in October 2025, and players said the fight was also about respect after the league triggered automatic revenue sharing and distributed $8m among all 13 teams last season.
With salaries soaring, will the WNBA's new CBA create super-teams or foster greater league-wide parity?
Is the WNBA's new pay model the definitive blueprint for achieving equity in all professional women's sports?
As WNBA stars stay home, what is the long-term impact on international leagues that relied on their talent?
WNBA’s Historic 2026 CBA: Players Secure 20% Revenue Share and Fivefold Salary Cap Increase
Overview
In March 2026, the WNBA and its players' union ratified a landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement that transformed the league's financial and operational landscape. Driven by strong player unity, the deal introduced a groundbreaking 20% revenue-sharing model, leading to significantly higher salaries and improved benefits like premium travel, family planning support, and mental health resources. This agreement ensured league stability by averting a lockout and allowed the season to proceed on schedule despite a compressed offseason. The comprehensive package attracted elite talent, earned positive fan and sponsor reactions, and set a new standard as a blueprint for other women's sports leagues, while financial sustainability remains tied to ongoing revenue growth efforts.