After six weeks of silence, the WNBA finally delivered. On Friday evening, February 6, the league submitted its latest collective bargaining agreement proposal to the players union– a counter-offer the players had been waiting for since submitting their own proposal back in December. However, what arrived was a mixed bag; incremental progress on player demands around housing and benefits, yet continued resistance on the single issue that matters most– revenue sharing. With the season scheduled to start May 8 and an expansion draft, free agency, and rookie draft all still pending, the clock is ticking. The question is looming over women’s basketball: Will there be a 2026 season?
What Did the WNBA Concede?
The league’s latest proposal made several concessions that had been priorities for players:
Housing Provisions: For the first time, the league included housing provisions in its offer. Players earning the applicable minimum salary and those with zero years of service would be provided one-bedroom apartments for the first three years of the new CBA. Developmental players would receive studio apartments. This is a notable shift from the league’s previous stance, which offered no housing provisions at all. However, the offer remains limited, as any player earning even slightly above the minimum salary would not qualify for housing, and the one-bedroom benefit disappears entirely in 2029.
Developmental Roster Spots: The league agreed to add two developmental player roster sports per team, a proposal originally made by the union. These players will be eligible to play a limited number of games, will receive per-game pay plus a stipend, and will have access to housing and medical benefits.
Retirement Benefits: The league proposed a recognition payment of $3,000 per year of service for retired players who logged eight or more years in the WNBA. This benefit applies only to players who retired before the implementation of the new CBA.
Other Noneconomic Gains: Previous proposals included player-friendly provisions like pregnant player trade consent, elimination of marijuana testing, increased performance bonuses, higher 401(k) contributions, team staffing requirements, and codification of charter flights and first-class travel.
Salary Cap Increase: The proposed salary cap for 2026 was bumped from $5 million to $5.65 million– still far below the union’s proposal of $10.5 million.
The Revenue Sharing Impasse: Why This Matters Most
Despite the incremental gains, the league’s latest proposal made only marginal changes to its revenue sharing system and still does not meet or exceed 15% of total league revenue. This is the central, and enormous, striking point.
The League’s Position: The WNBA has proposed that players receive over 70% of net revenue– revenue calculated after expenses like upgraded facilities, charter flights, five-star hotels, medical services, security, and arenas are deducted. Under this model, the league projects maximum salaries could reach $1.3 million in 2026 (up from the current $249,000), potentially growing to nearly $2 million by 2031. The average player salary would start around $540,000 in 2026 and reach $780,000 by 2031, up from roughly $120,000 in 2025.
The Players’ Position: The union is demanding approximately 30% of gross revenue– revenue calculated before expenses are deducted. They argue that the league’s proposal constitutes less than 15% of gross revenue, which they view as inadequate given the league’s surging popularity and media rights deals.
This dispute centers on how revenue should be measured and what expenses are legitimate deductions. The league claims that the union’s proposal would result in $700 million in losses over the course of the agreement and jeopardize the league’s financial health. The union counters that its model would still leave the league profitable and calls the loss projection absolutely false, citing disagreements over whether expansion fees should be factored into the calculations.
As WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike stated before receiving the latest proposal, “we made the point that once we nail this, we can get everything else done.” Revenue sharing is the keystone– and it remains unresolved.
What Happens Next? Will There Be a Season?
WNBPA leadership plans to meet in the coming days to review the league’s latest proposal. The union authorized a strike in December, though Ogwumike has emphasized that a strike is not imminent and the union is negotiating in good faith.
Time is running short. The 2026 season is scheduled to begin on May 8, but before that can happen, the league must finalize a CBA, conduct an expansion draft for the new Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire franchises, complete free agency for 80% of the league’s players, and hold a rookie draft. Industry sources suggest that if a deal isn’t reached within the first two weeks of February, the season will likely be delayed.
The stakes are high for both sides. Every missed game means lost revenue, sponsorships, television money, and fan support. The last CBA was announced in mid-January 2020, a month after it was agreed to, and it could take up to two months from agreement to the start of free agency.
Despite the uncertainty, Ogwumike remains optimistic. “I know our players 100% want to play this year,” she told the Associated Press. “We want a season.”
The Bottom Line
The WNBA’s latest proposal concedes on housing, developmental players, retirement benefits, and other quality-of-life issues that matter to players. But the league has barely budged on the issue that matters most– how revenue is shared and measured. Until the two sides bridge the gap between net revenue and gross revenue, between 15% and 30%, and between competing visions of the league’s financial future, a deal remains elusive.
The coming days will be critical. With the season start date looming and pressure mounting, both sides must decide: is compromise possible, or are we headed for a delay, or worse, a work stoppage? For now, basketball fans can only wait and hope that the two sides find a common ground before it’s too late.
Sources:
ESPN News Services, WNBA submits latest CBA proposal to players, source says, ESPN (Feb. 6, 2026).
Annie Costabile, WNBA Owners Make Small Concessions in Latest CBA Proposal, Front Office Sports (Feb. 7, 2026).
Alexa Philippou, Sources: WNBA’s new CBA proposal includes housing provisions, ESPN (Feb. 7, 2026).
Cat Ariail, With latest CBA proposal, the WNBA has conceded to some player demands– but not the most important one, Yahoo Sports (Feb. 8, 2026).
As a second-year law student at UB Law, I've found my calling at the intersection of sports, labor law, and collective bargaining. Growing up watching professional basketball and football, I was always captivated by the games, but in law school, I developed a deep interest in what happens off the court and field.
I'm particularly drawn to the high-stakes world of CBA negotiations, where leagues and players' unions negotiate over revenue sharing, workplace protections, and compensation models. Through this blog, I analyze the legal strategies behind sports headlines, breaking down complex labor disputes, arbitration cases, and contract negotiations.
This is where my love of sports meets my dedication to law. Welcome to the conversation!
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