NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced a significant salary boost for WNBA players in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement. He emphasized that measuring player earnings in “absolute numbers” is more relevant than focusing solely on revenue-sharing percentages. Silver made these remarks during an interview on the “Today Show,” stating, “They are going to get a big increase in this cycle of collective bargaining, and they deserve it.”
Current Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) opted out of the existing collective bargaining agreement a year ago, initiating negotiations for a new deal. The current agreement is set to expire on October 31, prompting urgency in discussions.
Players have expressed frustration over differing perspectives on salary determination. Many advocate for a system where player compensation increases as league revenues rise, similar to the NBA model. In the NBA, players receive nearly half of basketball-related income, while current WNBA proposals suggest a fixed annual increase of 3% to the salary cap.
Feedback from Players
- Satou Sabally of the Phoenix Mercury commented that recent proposals make players feel excluded from the league’s growth.
- She stated, “If we continued with this CBA, we would, percentage-wise, go down on our compensation.”
As of 2025, the WNBA’s salary cap stands at $1,507,100. The super-maximum salary is $249,244, while the minimum is $66,079. Despite these figures, the league has experienced remarkable growth over the past two years, characterized by increased attendance, viewership, merchandise sales, and franchise valuations. A new media deal worth $2.2 billion is also on the horizon.
The Importance of Balance
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert acknowledged the challenge of balancing player salary increases with the league’s long-term viability. She highlighted the need for maintaining a sustainable economic model to attract and retain investors.
Engelbert noted, “We want to incentivize investment from owners while also attempting to return as much revenue as possible to the players.” The league is also considering potential expansion to 18 teams by the end of the decade, which adds another layer to the negotiations.
Next Steps
If the parties do not reach an agreement by Halloween, they might extend negotiations as they did for the last CBA, which was finalized in January 2020. A finalized agreement is crucial before the expansion draft for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire. Additionally, it will precede a free agency period where many veteran players will become unrestricted free agents.
