A general view of the WNBA logo on the court before a WNBA game between the Atlanta Dream and the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut on September 1, 2025.
Erica Denhof | Sportswire Icon | Getty Images
The Women’s National Basketball Association and its Players Association are moving closer to a collective bargaining agreement, two days after their self-imposed deadline.
The parties met around the clock in a central New York hotel, with negotiations extending late into the morning to reach an agreement, according to a person familiar with the process, who asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Nine proposals were exchanged between the two sides in recent days, addressing almost all the issues under discussion, the source said.
The negotiations come as women’s sport has seen significant financial growth thanks to larger media deals and strong demand.
The WNBA previously said the new CBA should be in place by March 10 in order to start the season on time. Negotiations continued on Thursday. It’s unclear exactly what this delay will mean for the scheduled start of the season.
WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike told reporters Wednesday evening that players are “feeling movement” in the negotiations. The Players’ Association said it was and will continue to be fully engaged in negotiations.
“We want to play. We heard it from the other side as well,” Ogwumike told reporters.
The league’s latest proposal included increases in almost every category, according to a copy of the details obtained by CNBC.
Under the proposal, the league offers a salary cap four times higher than the current cap — at $6.2 million, up from the current cap of $1.5 million. That cap would increase each year as team and league revenue grows, according to the proposal.
Average salaries would also see a significant increase, starting at $570,000 in the first year and reaching $850,000 in the sixth year. The current average salary for a player in the league is about $120,000, according to a second person close to the current CBA, who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the subject.
The proposal includes maximum salaries exceeding $1.3 million and reaching nearly $2 million. The current maximum contract under the current CBA is just under $250,000, the second person added.
The parties, however, still disagree on revenue sharing, according to the first person familiar with the matter.
The league’s latest proposal includes a new uncapped revenue sharing system, tied to both league and team revenue, according to the version obtained by CNBC. It no longer includes minimum thresholds for sharing to be triggered.
The league is also proposing new minimum standards for facility improvements, such as locker rooms, weight rooms and treatment areas, as well as charter flights and first-class travel amenities for all league events and increased performance bonuses.
The WNBA season is scheduled to begin on Friday, May 8, and the draft is scheduled for April 13.